NCT07730879 How Wall Squat Exercise Affects Blood Pressure in People With High Blood Pressure and Treated Sleep Apnea (WALLPRESS)
| NCT ID | NCT07730879 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | Aveiro University |
| Condition | Hypertension |
| Study Type | INTERVENTIONAL |
| Enrollment | 20 participants |
| Start Date | 2026-07-30 |
| Primary Completion | 2026-10-30 |
Eligibility & Interventions
Eligibility Fast-Check
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What to Expect as a Participant
You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.
This trial targets 20 participants in total. It began in 2026-07-30 with a primary completion date of 2026-10-30.
⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.
Brief Summary
This study will look at whether a simple exercise called the isometric wall squat can help lower blood pressure in adults who have both hypertension and obstructive sleep apnoea treated with CPAP. Obstructive sleep apnoea is a condition in which breathing repeatedly stops or becomes shallow during sleep, and it is closely linked to high blood pressure. Although CPAP helps treat sleep apnoea, it usually lowers blood pressure only a little, so additional non-drug strategies may be useful. The study will compare two situations in the same participants: one session of wall squat exercise and one non-exercise control session. Each participant will take part in both sessions, but the order will be random. This design helps the researchers compare blood pressure changes more fairly within the same person. Participants will first attend a familiarization session, where the study procedures will be explained and the exercise intensity will be checked. After that, they will complete the two study sessions at home, during their usual CPAP treatment visits. The sessions will be separated by at least 48 hours and completed within one week. Both sessions will be scheduled at the same time of day to reduce the effect of normal daily changes in blood pressure. The main result the researchers will measure is the average systolic blood pressure during the 12 hours after each session, using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. This means blood pressure will be measured over time while the participant goes about normal daily activities. The researchers want to find out whether a single session of wall squat exercise produces a greater blood pressure reduction than simply resting without exercise. This study may help improve understanding of whether isometric exercise can be a practical, low-cost, home-based option to support blood pressure control in people with hypertension and CPAP-treated obstructive sleep apnoea.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * 18-80 years old. * Diagnosis of hypertension and OSA confirmed by polysomnography or respiratory sleep study. * Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) of at least 15 events per hour. * Treatment with CPAP for at least 3 months. Exclusion Criteria: * Mean CPAP adherence \<4 hours/night over the last month, documented by device download. * Heart failure. * Peripheral artery disease. * Atrial fibrillation. * Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. * Chronic kidney disease. * History of acute coronary syndrome, stroke, or transient ischemic attack in the previous 12 months. * Relevant changes in antihypertensive or other cardiovascular pharmacotherapy in the previous 3 months. * Relevant changes in CPAP prescription in the previous 3 months. * Any contraindication to exercise according to contemporary ESC/ACSM recommendations (e.g. unstable angina). * Pregnancy or breastfeeding. * Neurological and/or orthopaedic conditions that could interfere with exercise (e.g. severe knee osteoarthritis, recent lower-limb surgery). * Inability to read, understand, or provide informed consent.
Contact & Investigator
Fernando Ribeiro, PhD
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugual
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT07730879 clinical trial?
This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, up to 80 Years, studying Hypertension. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT07730879 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT07730879 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at fernando.ribeiro@ua.pt for enrollment information.
Where is the NCT07730879 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at Braga, Portugal.
Who is sponsoring the NCT07730879 clinical trial?
NCT07730879 is sponsored by Aveiro University. The principal investigator is Fernando Ribeiro, PhD at University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugual. The trial plans to enroll 20 participants.