Efficacy of Remote Ischemic Conditioning for Hypertension in High-Altitude Immigrant Populations

This study is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label, parallel-controlled clinical trial. The study participants are adult patients with hypertension who have been long-term residents (for >6 months) in high-altitude regions (≥2500 m). They are randomly assigned to one of two groups: a conventional medication group and a remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) intervention group. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a standardized 30-day RIC intervention, as an add-on to conventional antihypertensive medication, for reducing blood pressure in hypertensive immigrants living at high altitude.

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Key information

Conditions

Hypertension Cardiovascular Diseases Vascular Diseases

Age range

18 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 3

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Age 18-60 years, of either sex; Continuous residence in a high-altitude region (>2500 m) for more than 6 months, with no plan for long-term departure from the plateau during the study period; Meeting the diagnostic criteria for essential hypertension; Willing to provide written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

Evidence of secondary hypertension; Severe dysfunction of vital organs (e.g., heart, liver, kidney, lungs); Active malignancy, uncontrolled hyperthyroidism, active autoimmune disease, or poorly controlled diabetes mellitus; Office blood pressure ≥180/110 mmHg, or 24-hour average blood pressure ≥170/100 mmHg; Hospitalization for hypertensive crisis or emergency at least once within the past 3 months; History of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular event within the past 3 months; Pregnancy, planned pregnancy, or lactation for female participants; Contraindications to RIC (e.g., severe peripheral arterial disease, venous thrombosis, or soft tissue injury in the upper limbs); Any other condition deemed by the investigator to be unsuitable for participation in the study.

Treatment and study plan

RIC

Device

Participants will undergo a 7-day remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) intervention prior to ascending to high altitude. On the day following the completion of the RIC intervention, they will ascend to a high-altitude region (>2500 m). Standardized RIC treatment will be administered using a dedicated RIC device. Each intervention session consists of 5 cycles. Every cycle includes 5 minutes of bilateral upper limb ischemia followed by 5 minutes of reperfusion. The cuff pressure for inducing ischemia is set at 200 mmHg. The intervention is administered twice daily for 30 consecutive days.

Primary outcomes

Percentage change in 24-hour mean systolic blood pressure from baseline.

Time frame: 30 days

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Capital Medical University

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2026
Primary completion: 2028
Study completion: 2028
First posted: May 1, 2026
Registry last updated: May 1, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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