# DIETARY INTERVENTIONS IN THE ELDERLY TRIAL

> **NIH NIH R01** · WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY · 1993 · $587,839

## Abstract

A substantial proportion (probably  30-40%) of elderly persons are being
treated with BP medications. The efficacy of BP drug therapy in older
patient with diastolic or combined diastolic/systolic hypertension is
well proven but there is little doubt that such therapy can adversely
effect quality of life and the biochemical profile. There is a
compelling rationale to (1) identify what proportion of medicates, well-
controlled elderly hypertensives can be maintained. (long-term; greater
than 30 months) in the normotensive state following withdrawal of BP
medications, and (2) determine whether non-pharmacologic therapy can
significantly increase the proportion with a successful outcome.

Nine-hundred subjects (225 in each of four centers) 65-80 yrs. with a
SBP less than 160 and DBP less than 90 mmhg while receiving one BP
medication will be enrolled in a trial to test the efficacy of weight
loss and sodium restriction (alone and combined) in maintaining the
normotensive state following withdrawal of antihypertensive medications.
Six-hundred overweight participants will be randomly assigned to weight
loss, sodium restriction, combined weight loss and sodium restriction,
or attention control. Three-hundred non-overweight participants will be
randomly assigned to a sodium restriction or attention control group.
The attention groups will be engaged in a series of non-BP related
health encounters designed to control for non-specific effects of group
contacts. Withdrawal of antihypertensive medications will be attempted
following 6 weeks of intervention. The primary trial endpoint will be
needed for  recurrent antihypertensive drug therapy. The significance of
the proposed study is that our findings may identify a non-pharmacologic
approach which provides a safe and well-tolerated method by which to
discontinue antihypertensive drug therapy in the approximately 15
million persons greater than or equal to 65 years who are currently
being treated with BP medications. In addition, our study will identify
the proportion of elderly hypertensives who can be maintained in the
normotensive state without and intervention following withdrawal of
their BP medications.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3121729
- **Project number:** 5R01AG009799-02
- **Recipient organization:** WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** MBU6HCLNZ431
- **Principal Investigator:** WALTER H ETTINGER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1993
- **Award amount:** $587,839
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1992-05-15 → 1996-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3121729

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3121729, DIETARY INTERVENTIONS IN THE ELDERLY TRIAL (5R01AG009799-02). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3121729. Licensed CC0.

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