Using positive airway pressure to manage blood pressure issues in older adults
Official title: Hemodynamic Effects of Positive Airway Pressure to Treat Supine Hypertension and Improve Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension
Funded at Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-10986079 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how using a CPAP machine, which helps with breathing during sleep, might lower high blood pressure that some older adults experience when lying down, and it hopes to make them feel better when they stand up during the day.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2021 |
| Project end | November 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $604,522 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL161095-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10986079 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults experiencing supine hypertension and orthostatic hypotension, particularly those with impaired autonomic reflexes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have issues with blood pressure regulation or those without supine hypertension may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) can help treat supine hypertension, a condition where blood pressure rises while lying down, which is common in older adults. The study aims to understand how CPAP can improve blood flow and reduce symptoms of orthostatic hypotension, where blood pressure drops upon standing. By applying CPAP, the researchers hope to create a similar effect to sleeping in a head-up position, potentially alleviating nighttime hypertension and its daytime consequences. Patients will be monitored to assess changes in blood pressure and related symptoms during the treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a new, effective treatment option for managing blood pressure issues in older adults, improving their quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary studies have shown promising results using CPAP for similar hemodynamic effects, indicating potential for success in this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Biaggioni, Italo — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Biaggioni, Italo
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.