CART BP Pro-Guided Blood Pressure Management for Uncontrolled Hypertension

Efficacy and Safety of Cuffless Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Device-Guided Blood Pressure Management Compared With Usual Care in Korean Patients With Uncontrolled Hypertension: A Multicenter Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

This multicenter, prospective, open-label randomized controlled trial evaluates the efficacy and safety of CART BP Pro-guided blood pressure management in Korean patients with uncontrolled hypertension. CART BP Pro is a wearable cuffless blood pressure monitoring device based on photoplethysmography technology that enables continuous ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

Eligible participants with uncontrolled hypertension despite ongoing antihypertensive therapy will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either a CART BP Pro-guided management group or a usual care group based on conventional office blood pressure measurements. Antihypertensive treatment in both groups will follow guideline-based therapy using standard agents including angiotensin receptor blockers, calcium channel blockers, and thiazide diuretics.

The primary efficacy endpoint is the between-group difference in 24-hour mean systolic blood pressure at 24 weeks measured using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Safety will be assessed by the incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events during the study period.

Hypertension remains one of the most prevalent chronic conditions worldwide and is a major contributor to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Although multiple antihypertensive medications are widely used, a substantial proportion of patients remain inadequately controlled. Office blood pressure measurements alone may not adequately reflect the true blood pressure burden or nocturnal blood pressure patterns. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring provides a more comprehensive assessment of blood pressure variability and control but is limited by patient discomfort and practical constraints. Recently developed wearable cuffless blood pressure monitoring devices have the potential to provide continuous and convenient blood pressure assessment in real-world settings.

CART BP Pro is a wearable ring-type device that uses photoplethysmography-based technology to estimate continuous ambulatory blood pressure. Compared with conventional cuff-based ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, the device allows more comfortable long-term monitoring and may facilitate improved hypertension management.

This study is designed as a multicenter, prospective, open-label randomized controlled trial conducted at Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University Guro Hospital, and Korea University Ansan Hospital. Adult patients with uncontrolled hypertension despite ongoing antihypertensive therapy will be enrolled and randomized to either CART BP Pro-guided management or usual care. In the intervention group, antihypertensive treatment adjustments will be guided by blood pressure information obtained from the CART BP Pro device. In the control group, treatment decisions will be based on conventional office blood pressure measurements according to standard clinical practice. Participants will be followed for 24 weeks to evaluate blood pressure control and safety outcomes. An optional extended follow-up to 48 weeks may be performed for additional observational analysis.

The study aims to determine whether CART BP Pro-guided blood pressure management improves ambulatory blood pressure control compared with usual care in real-world clinical practice.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age ≥ 19 years
2. Uncontrolled hypertension defined as office systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg
3. Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent and comply with study procedures

Exclusion Criteria:

1. History of intolerance or contraindication to olmesartan, amlodipine, or hydrochlorothiazide
2. Suspected secondary hypertension
3. Atrial fibrillation
4. Pregnancy or lactation
5. Any serious medical condition that may interfere with study participation or interpretation of study results