Stopping Antihypertensive Treatment amOng Hypertensive Patients in Primary Care (STOP-Trial)

HBPM should be performed by the patients twice a day for 7 consecutive days before each visit (ESH protocol), using a device clinically tested (ESH/international protocol).

At baseline (visit 1), for the patients included, the antihypertensive treatment will be stopped in 3 consecutive days (half dose then interruption), over a maximum period of 12 months corresponding to the length of the participation and the monitoring of the patients.

Follow-up visits at day 30 (visit 2), day 90 (visit 3), day 180 (visit 4), day 270 (visit 5) and day 360 (visit 6). Will be performed at each visit:

• Calculation of the average of HBPM values by the investigator
• Measurements of office blood pressure (average of 3 consecutive measurements)
• SF 36 scale at baseline (visit 1) and day 360 (visit 6)
• During follow-up, the investigator will be free at any time to reintroduce an antihypertensive treatment if the average of HBPM values is greater than or equal to 135/85 mmHg on two consecutive visits, or greater than or equal to 155/95 mmHg regardless of the visit and regardless of the office blood pressure level.

At the end of study, the recovery of an antihypertensive treatment by the patients will be left to the discretion of the investigator.

Inclusion criteria

• Ambulatory patient above 18 years old.
• Grade I hypertension at diagnosis.
• Hypertension diagnosed and treated (whatever is its seniority and for at least 6 months) by antihypertensive drug.
• Controlled hypertension (Clinical BP < 140/90 mmHg) or uncontrolled hypertension (Clinical BP > or equal to 140/90 mmHg) without modification of treatment for at least 6 months, by a monotherapy or a low dose dual therapy.
• HBPM values < 135/85mmHg (in order to exclude masked hypertension).
• Patient having signed the informed consent form.
• Patient affiliated to a national insurance scheme.

Exclusion criteria

• Personal cardiovascular history and/or necessity to take the antihypertensive treatment for another reason than hypertension (heart failure, migraine, peripheral arterial disease, coronary heart disease, stroke…).
• Target organ damage (evidence of ventricular hypertrophy by ECG or cardiac echography and/or proteinuria and/or pathological micro-albuminuria presence showing a nephropathy, in the last year).
• Poorly compliant patient, whose score of Girerd questionnaire is equal to or greater than 3.
• Existence of a progressive disease likely to impact on the life expectancy in a short term.
• Existence of a documented atrial fibrillation (contraindication of HBPM).
• Patient under a legal protection measure.
• Chronic alcohol or drug abuse, regular intake of vasopressor effect substances (licorice,cocaine,...).
• Current known pregnancy or project of pregnancy within one year.