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HypertensionPhase 2QUARTET USANCT03640312

Efficacy and Safety of a Quadruple Ultra-low-dose Treatment for Hypertension

A Phase 2 study testing QUARTET LDQT and Candesartan in people with Hypertension, run by Washington University School of Medicine at 2 sites in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

To investigate, in a double-blind randomized controlled trial, whether initiating treatment with ultra-low-dose quadruple-combination therapy ("LDQT") will lower office blood pressure more effectively, and with fewer side effects, compared to initiating standard dose monotherapy as per current guidelines in patients… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Hypertension
What is being tested?
QUARTET LDQT and Candesartan
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
62 participants
Where
2 sitesUnited States
Study dates
30 Aug 2019to 31 Jul 2024
Phase
Phase 2
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Adults (≥18 years)
  • Spanish or English speaker.
  • Previous documentation within the past 24 months of hypertension or high blood pressure (SBP 130-179 mmHg or DBP 80-109 mmHg) from general practitioner, pharmacist or health care professional (e.g., medical assistant, physician or nurse).
  • Either: 1) Untreated (automated) clinic SBP 140-179 or DBP 90-109 mmHg in the last 12 weeks, OR 2) Monotherapy with clinic SBP 130-159 or DBP 85-99 mmHg in the last 12 weeks.
  • Either: 1) Treatment naïve, OR 2) Currently not on treatment (not take in last 4 weeks), OR 3) Currently taking 1 BP lowering drug (ACE, ARB, CCB, thiazide- or thiazide-like diuretic, BB, MRA, alpha blocker) at any dose.
  • Research grade blood pressure measurement (baseline mean) SBP>= 115 mmHg and DBP >= 60 mmHg

Who cannot join

  • Known contraindication to candesartan, amlodipine, indapamide or bisoprolol.
  • Previous diagnosis of coronary artery disease, stroke, or heart failure.
  • Presence of significant proteinuria (based on 3+ proteinuria via spot urinalysis or >300mg/dL of proteinuria based on random urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio testing of 300 mg/g)
  • Evidence of secondary cause of hypertension e.g., renal artery stenosis; significant renal impairment (eGFR <50 ml/min/1.73 m2), raised serum potassium (above lab normal limit of 5.5 mEq/L).
  • Women who are pregnant, breast feeding or of childbearing potential and are not using and do not plan to continue using medically acceptable form of contraception throughout the study (pharmacological or barrier methods).
  • Concomitant illness, physical impairment or mental condition which in the opinion of the study team / primary care physician could interfere with the conduct of the study including outcome assessments.
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  • Participation in a concurrent interventional medical investigation or pharmacologic clinical trial. Patients in observational, natural history or epidemiological studies not involving an intervention are eligible.
  • Participant's responsible primary care or other responsible physician believes it is not appropriate for participant to switch current monotherapy.
  • Inability or unwillingness to provide written informed consent.
  • Unable to complete study procedures.

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 1 country.

United States2 sites
  • ACCESS Martin T. Russo Family Health Center

    Bloomingdale, Illinois, 60108

  • Ashland Family Health Center

    Chicago, Illinois, 60609

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: A Double Blind Randomized Controlled Trial to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of a Quadruple Ultra-low-dose Treatment for Hypertension (QUARTET USA)

To investigate, in a double-blind randomized controlled trial, whether initiating treatment with ultra-low-dose quadruple-combination therapy ("LDQT") will lower office blood pressure more effectively, and with fewer side effects, compared to initiating standard dose monotherapy as per current guidelines in patients with hypertension.

Primary hypothesis: A combination pill comprising four types of blood pressure lowering medications, each at one-quarter standard doses, will lower office blood pressure more effectively than initiating patients with standard dose monotherapy as per contemporary clinical practice guideline recommendations.

Read the detailed description

This trial will investigate whether initiating treatment with ultra-low-dose quadruple-combination therapy (LDQT; including candesartan 2 mg, amlodipine 1.25 mg, indapamide 0.625 mg, and bisoprolol 2.5 mg) will lower automated office blood pressure and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure at 12 weeks more effectively, and with no increase in side effects, compared to initiating standard dose monotherapy (candesartan 8 mg) in adults with raised blood pressure (SBP>130 mmHg or DBP>80 mmHg) and without cardiovascular disease. Our preliminary data from a short-term (4-week) crossover trial of 18 participants suggest that LDQT lowers office blood pressure by 22/13 mmHg on average compared with placebo with no difference in serious adverse events. Effects on 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure were similar.

The investigators will perform this phase II, single site, randomized controlled trial in a network of federally qualified health centers in Chicago because this population bears a disproportionate burden of blood pressure related diseases, and the investigators have previously successfully conducted clinical studies in this population.

While the investigators hypothesize this intervention will be easily implemented and efficacious for all patients and clinicians, the investigators will explore variation in treatment effect by potential moderating variables, including age, sex, race/ethnicity, and health literacy level. Beyond examining efficacy, the investigators also plan to assess feasibility of implementing this intervention in a clinical setting by simultaneously evaluating implementation outcomes of acceptability, preferences, and lessons of LDQT among patients and clinicians.

Conditions
Hypertension
Being tested
QUARTET LDQT, Candesartan
Keywords
Hypertension, Blood Pressure
Medical subject headings
Hypertension

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • QUARTET LDQTDrug

    Ultra-low-dose combination therapy comprising four different blood pressure lowering drugs at 1/4 dosages. Taken once daily for 12 weeks.

  • CandesartanDrug

    Standard monotherapy of 8mg candesartan. Taken once daily for 12 weeks.

Study groups in NCT03640312
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
QUARTET LDQTExperimentalPatients randomized to the intervention arm will take a once daily ultra-low-dose quadruple combination therapy (QUARTET LDQT). The LDQT is an overencapsulated combination pill comprising four types of blood pressure lowering medications each at ¼ standard doses. QUARTET includes candesartan 2mg, amlodipine besylate 1.25mg, indapamide 0.625mg, and bisoprolol 2.5mg. The individual components are currently approved and marketed within the United States.
Receives: Drug: QUARTET LDQT
CandesartanActive comparatorPatients randomized to the comparison arm will take a once daily 8mg candesartan.
Receives: Drug: Candesartan

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change in Mean Systolic Blood Pressure

    Mean change (from baseline) in automated office systolic blood pressure adjusted for baseline values.

    Measured: 12 weeks

Secondary outcomes (9)
  1. Mean Systolic Blood Pressure

    Mean automated office systolic blood pressure adjusted for baseline values.

    Measured: 6 weeks

  2. Change in Mean Diastolic Blood Pressure

    Mean change (from baseline) in automated office diastolic blood pressure adjusted for baseline values.

    Measured: 6 weeks

  3. Mean Diastolic Blood Pressure

    Mean automated office diastolic blood pressure adjusted for baseline values.

    Measured: 6 weeks

  4. Proportion of Patients With Hypertension Control

    Proportion of patients with hypertension control (percent with SBP < 130 mmHg and DBP <80 mmHg).

    Measured: 6 and 12 weeks

  5. Number of Patients Requiring Step up Treatment

    Number of patients requiring step-up treatment.

    Measured: 6 weeks

  6. Proportion of Patients With Adverse Event Free Hypertension Control

    Proportion of patients with adverse event free hypertension control (percent with SBP < 130 mmHg and DBP <80 mmHg).

    Measured: 12 weeks

  7. Medication Adherence

    Medication adherence defined by objective pill counts

    Measured: 12 weeks

  8. Health-related Quality of Life

    Mean change (from baseline) in health-related quality of life using Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Global Health instrument. PROMIS Global Health is a gauge of general health-care related quality of life. Possible PROMIS Global Physical Health and Global Mental Health scores range from 0-20, with 20 indicating best possible state of health. Raw scores are converted to T-scores to compare to a standardized population. A PROMIS T-score of 50 represents the mean of the population (SD = 10). Higher values here also indicate better health. A positive change in T score, as reported in this outcome measure, would represent an improvement in Global Physical Health or Global Mental Health at 12 weeks compared to baseline.

    Measured: 12 weeks

  9. Change in Mean Systolic Blood Pressure

    Mean change (from baseline) in automated office systolic blood pressure adjusted for baseline values.

    Measured: 6 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted21 Aug 2018
  2. Study start30 Aug 2019
  3. Primary completion31 May 2022
  4. Study completion31 Jul 2024

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
62 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03640312
Sponsor's protocol ID
202203097-STU00205834
Acronym
QUARTET USA
Status last verified
Dec 2024
First submitted
15 Aug 2018
Last updated
3 Jan 2025
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Individual participant data will be shared through NHLBI BioLINCC.

Publications

  • Huffman MD, Baldridge AS, Lazar D, Abbas H, Mejia J, Flowers FM, Quintana A, Jackson A, Kandula NR, Lloyd-Jones DM, Persell SD, Khan SS, Paparello JJ, Chopra A, Tripathi P, Vu MH, Chow CK, Ciolino JD. Efficacy and safety of a four-drug, quarter-dose treatment for hypertension: the QUARTET USA randomized trial. Hypertens Res. 2024 Jun;47(6):1668-1677. doi: 10.1038/s41440-024-01658-y. Epub 2024 Apr 8.

    PubMed 38584159
  • Sanuade OA, Jacobson TA, Quintana A, Flowers FM, Abbasi H, Vu MH, Baldridge AS, Mejia J, Lazar D, Ciolino JD, Huffman MD, Kandula NR. Process Evaluation of a Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of a Quadruple Ultra-Low-Dose Treatment for Hypertension Within a Federally Qualified Health Center Network (QUARTET USA). J Am Heart Assoc. 2024 Jan 2;13(1):e032236. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.123.032236. Epub 2023 Dec 29.

    PubMed 38156601
  • Baldridge AS, Huffman MD, Lazar D, Abbas H, Flowers FM, Quintana A, Jackson A, Khan SS, Chopra A, Vu M, Tripathi P, Jacobson T, Sanuade OA, Kandula NR, Persell SD, Paparello JJ, Rosul LL, Mejia J, Lloyd-Jones DM, Chow CK, Ciolino JD. Efficacy and safety of a quadruple ultra-low-dose treatment for hypertension (QUARTET USA): Rationale and design for a randomized controlled trial. Am Heart J. 2022 Dec;254:183-193. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2022.09.004. Epub 2022 Sep 15.

    PubMed 36116516

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 2 study testing QUARTET LDQT and Candesartan in people with Hypertension, run by Washington University School of Medicine at 2 sites in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 10 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Jan 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 22 Sep 2023). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change in Mean Systolic Blood Pressure (time frame: 12 weeks). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03640312, which also lists 3 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 3 Jan 2025.

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