Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP)

NCT ID: NCT00000514

Last Updated: 2016-04-15

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: PHASE3
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 1984-06-30
• Study Completion Date: 1996-10-31

Brief Summary

The primary objective was to assess whether long-term administration of antihypertensive therapy to elderly subjects with isolated systolic hypertension reduced the combined incidence of fatal and non-fatal stroke. The secondary objectives were to evaluate: the effect of long-term antihypertensive therapy on mortality from any cause in elderly people with isolated systolic hypertension; possible adverse effects of chronic use of antihypertensive drug treatment in this population; the effect of therapy on indices of quality-of-life; the natural history of isolated systolic hypertension in the placebo population.

Detailed Description

BACKGROUND:

More than 3 million persons in the United States over the age of 60 have isolated systolic hypertension. They face an excess risk (2-3 fold) of stroke, other cardiovascular disease and death. Population-based data show that the prevalence rises from approximately 8 percent in the age group 60-69 years to approximately 20 percent over the age of 80. Based on available data, an annual stroke rate of 2.0 percent has been estimated in this population. The full-scale clinical trial followed a pilot study conducted from 1980 to 1983. Recruitment in the trial began in March 1985 and was finished in January 1988. Follow-up ended in February 1991. Data analysis continued through October 1996.

DESIGN NARRATIVE:

A randomized, double-blind trial in which 2,365 subjects were assigned to active treatment and 2,371 to placebo. For the active treatment group, a stepped-care regimen was used which included chlorthalidone 12.5 or 25 mg/day, and as needed, addition of atenolol 25 or 50 mg/day or reserpine, 0.05 or 0.10 mg/day. Treatment goal was to reduce systolic blood pressure by at least 20 mm Hg from baseline and to below 160 mm Hg with minimal amounts of study medication. The primary endpoint was the incidence of fatal and non-fatal stroke. Secondary endpoints were cardiovascular and coronary morbidity and mortality, all-cause mortality, and quality-of-life measures.

Conditions

Cardiovascular Diseases; Cerebrovascular Disorders; Heart Diseases; Hypertension

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Interventions

chlorthalidone

Intervention Type: DRUG

atenolol

Intervention Type: DRUG

reserpine

Intervention Type: DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Men and women, aged 60 or over, with isolated systolic hypertension.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 60 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 100 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

NIH

Sponsor Role: collaborator

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

NIH

Sponsor Role: lead

Principal Investigators

C. Hawkins

Role:

University of Texas

References

Hulley SB, Feigal D, Ireland C, Kuller LH, Smith WM. Systolic hypertension in the elderly program (SHEP). The first three months. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1986 Feb;34(2):101-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1986.tb05476.x. No abstract available.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 3511131 (View on PubMed)

Furberg CD, Cutler JA, Probstfield JL, et al: The Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program. Mild Hypertension: From Drug Trials to Practice, Raven Press, New York, 59-63, 1987.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

Rationale and design of a randomized clinical trial on prevention of stroke in isolated systolic hypertension. The Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP) Cooperative Research Group. J Clin Epidemiol. 1988;41(12):1197-208. doi: 10.1016/0895-4356(88)90024-8.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 2905387 (View on PubMed)

Probstfield JL, Applegate WB, Curb JD, et al for the SHEP Cooperative Research Group: The Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP): Rationale, Design, Recruitment, and Baseline Data. In: Omae T, Zanchetti A, (Eds.) How Should Elderly Hypertensive Patients Be Treated? Tokyo: Springer-Verlag, 135-142, 1989.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

Probstfield JL, Applegate WB, Borhani NO, Curb JD, Cutler JA, Davis BR, Furberg CD, Hawkins CM, Lakatos E, Page LB, et al. The Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP): an intervention trial on isolated systolic hypertension. SHEP Cooperative Research Group. Clin Exp Hypertens A. 1989;11(5-6):973-89. doi: 10.3109/10641968909035386.

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Prevention of stroke by antihypertensive drug treatment in older persons with isolated systolic hypertension. Final results of the Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP). SHEP Cooperative Research Group. JAMA. 1991 Jun 26;265(24):3255-64.

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Applegate WB, Davis BR, Black HR, Smith WM, Miller ST, Burlando AJ. Prevalence of postural hypotension at baseline in the Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP) cohort. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1991 Nov;39(11):1057-64. doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1991.tb02869.x.

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Reference Type: BACKGROUND

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Reference Type: BACKGROUND

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Reference Type: BACKGROUND

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Reference Type: BACKGROUND

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Black HR, Unger D, Burlando A, Wright JC, Pressel SL, Allen R, McDonald RH, Surath H. Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP). Part 6: Baseline physical examination findings. Hypertension. 1991 Mar;17(3 Suppl):II77-101. doi: 10.1161/01.hyp.17.3_suppl.ii77. No abstract available.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 1999377 (View on PubMed)

Hall WD, Davis BR, Frost P, Hoffmeier M, O'Brien JE, Pace S, Page L, Schneider KA, Stamler J. Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP). Part 7: Baseline laboratory characteristics. Hypertension. 1991 Mar;17(3 Suppl):II102-22. doi: 10.1161/01.hyp.17.3_suppl.ii102. No abstract available.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

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Kostis JB, Prineas R, Curb JD, Lee M, Berkson D, Raines J, Frishman W, Francis CK, Sheffield T. Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP). Part 8: Electrocardiographic characteristics. Hypertension. 1991 Mar;17(3 Suppl):II123-51. doi: 10.1161/01.hyp.17.3_suppl.ii123. No abstract available.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 1825649 (View on PubMed)

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Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 1999370 (View on PubMed)

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Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 8478043 (View on PubMed)

Davis BR, Wittes J, Pressel S, Berge KG, Hawkins CM, Lakatos E, Moye LA, Probstfield JL. Statistical considerations in monitoring the Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP). Control Clin Trials. 1993 Oct;14(5):350-61. doi: 10.1016/0197-2456(93)90051-e.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 8222667 (View on PubMed)

Kostis JB, Allen R, Berkson DM, Curb JD, Davey J, Grimm RH, Hall WD, Lacy CR, Lee M, Miller S, et al. Correlates of ventricular ectopic activity in isolated systolic hypertension. SHEP Cooperative Research Group. Am Heart J. 1994 Jan;127(1):112-21. doi: 10.1016/0002-8703(94)90516-9.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 7506007 (View on PubMed)

Moye LA, Davis BR, Hawkins CM, Probstfield JL. Conclusions and implications of the systolic hypertension in the elderly program. Clin Exp Hypertens. 1993 Nov;15(6):911-24. doi: 10.3109/10641969309037081.

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PMID: 8268898 (View on PubMed)

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PMID: 8921777 (View on PubMed)

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Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 8968014 (View on PubMed)

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Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 8604962 (View on PubMed)

Frost PH, Davis BR, Burlando AJ, Curb JD, Guthrie GP, Isaacsohn JL, Wassertheil-Smoller S, Wilson AC, Stamler J. Coronary heart disease risk factors in men and women aged 60 years and older: findings from the Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program. Circulation. 1996 Jul 1;94(1):26-34. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.94.1.26.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

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Reference Type: BACKGROUND

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Kostis JB, Lacy CR, Hall WD, Wilson AC, Borhani NO, Krieger SD, Cosgrove NM. The effect of chlorthalidone on ventricular ectopic activity in patients with isolated systolic hypertension. The SHEP Study Group. Am J Cardiol. 1994 Sep 1;74(5):464-7. doi: 10.1016/0002-9149(94)90904-0.

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Hertert S, Bailey G, Cottinghan V, Carmody S, Egan D, Johnson P, Probstfield J. Community volunteers as recruitment staff in a clinical trial: the systolic hypertension in the elderly program (SHEP) experience. Control Clin Trials. 1996 Feb;17(1):23-32. doi: 10.1016/0197-2456(95)00074-7.

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Kostis JB, Davis BR, Cutler J, Grimm RH Jr, Berge KG, Cohen JD, Lacy CR, Perry HM Jr, Blaufox MD, Wassertheil-Smoller S, Black HR, Schron E, Berkson DM, Curb JD, Smith WM, McDonald R, Applegate WB. Prevention of heart failure by antihypertensive drug treatment in older persons with isolated systolic hypertension. SHEP Cooperative Research Group. JAMA. 1997 Jul 16;278(3):212-6.

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Pahor M, Shorr RI, Somes GW, Cushman WC, Ferrucci L, Bailey JE, Elam JT, Applegate WB. Diuretic-based treatment and cardiovascular events in patients with mild renal dysfunction enrolled in the systolic hypertension in the elderly program. Arch Intern Med. 1998 Jun 22;158(12):1340-5. doi: 10.1001/archinte.158.12.1340.

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Chen L, You S, Ee N, Rockwood K, Ward DD, Woodward M, Liu T, Gao Y, Williamson JD, Anderson CS, Harris K, Chen X, Peters R. Impact of Frailty on Antihypertensive Treatment in Older Adults. Hypertension. 2025 Mar;82(3):509-519. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.124.24214. Epub 2025 Jan 14.

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Other Identifiers

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Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id