Catheter-Based Renal Denervation: 9-Year Follow-Up Data on Safety and Blood Pressure Reduction in Patients with Resistant Hypertension

Background: Recent sham-controlled randomized clinical trials have confirmed the safety and efficacy of catheter-based renal denervation (RDN). Long-term safety and efficacy data beyond 3 years are scarce. Here, we report on outcomes after RDN in a cohort of patients with resistant hypertension with an average of ≈9-year follow-up (FU). Methods: We recruited patients with resistant hypertension who were previously enrolled in various RDN trials applying radiofrequency energy for blood pressure (BP) lowering. All participants had baseline assessments before RDN and repeat assessment at long-term FU including medical history, automated office and ambulatory BP measurement, and routine blood and urine tests. We analyzed changes between baseline and long-term FU. Results: A total of 66 participants (mean±SD, 70.0±10.3 years; 76.3% men) completed long-term FU investigations with a mean of 8.8±1.2 years post-procedure. Compared with baseline, ambulatory systolic BP was reduced by -12.1±21.6 (from 145.2 to 133.1) mm Hg (P<0.0001) and diastolic BP by -8.8±12.8 (from 81.2 to 72.7) mm Hg (P<0.0001). Mean heart rate remained unchanged. At long-term FU, participants were on one less antihypertensive medication compared with baseline (P=0.0052). Renal function assessed by estimated glomerular filtration rate fell within the expected age-associated rate of decline from 71.1 to 61.2 mL/min per 1.73 m². Time above target was reduced significantly from 75.0±25.9% at baseline to 47.3±30.3% at long-term FU (P<0.0001). Conclusions: RDN results in a significant and robust reduction in both office and ambulatory systolic and diastolic BP at ≈9-year FU after catheter-based RDN on less medication and without evidence of adverse consequences on renal function.