Hydrogen Inhalation Therapy Lowers Blood Pressure in Hypertension Study

Authors
Journal
Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine
Year
DOI
10.3389/fcvm.2024.1391282
Study Type
Human
Outcome
Positive
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Country
China
Health Condition
Hypertension
Body System
Cardiovascular

TL;DR

Breathing in hydrogen gas appears to lower blood pressure in Chinese adults with hypertension without causing significant side effects.

Key Finding

Patients receiving hydrogen inhalation therapy as an add-on treatment achieved additional blood pressure reductions of 4.6 to 7.8 mm Hg (systolic) and 1.8 to 2.9 mm Hg (diastolic) compared to standard treatment alone over 24 weeks, with more than double the likelihood of achieving controlled blood pressure by week 24.

Summary

This study looked at whether inhaling hydrogen gas could help lower blood pressure in Chinese adults who were already taking blood pressure medications. Researchers compared 2,364 patients who received hydrogen inhalation therapy along with their regular medications to patients who received only regular medications over 24 weeks. Patients using hydrogen inhalation had greater reductions in both systolic (top number) and diastolic (bottom number) blood pressure, and more of them achieved controlled blood pressure levels by the end of the study. The safety profile was similar between the two groups.

Practical Takeaway

This real-world study suggests that hydrogen inhalation may support additional blood pressure reduction when used alongside standard medications, though it is not a replacement for them. The study was observational rather than a controlled trial, and results are specific to Chinese populations receiving this particular treatment protocol; more research in diverse populations would strengthen these findings. Anyone considering hydrogen inhalation therapy should discuss it with their healthcare provider.

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the real-life effectiveness and safety of hydrogen inhalation (HI) therapy as an additional treatment in Chinese adults with hypertension. Methods: This observational, retrospective clinical study included hypertensive patients receiving routine antihypertensives with or without HI initiation from 2018 to 2023. Participants were assigned to the HI group or non-HI group (control group) after propensity score matching. The changes in mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) level during the 24-week follow-up period in different groups were examined primarily. The secondary outcome was the changes in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and blood pressure (BP) control rate during the study. Several subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to confirm the robustness of our main findings. Adverse event (AE) was also assessed in patients of both groups. Results: In total, we selected 2,364 patients into the analysis. Both mean SBP and DBP levels significantly decreased in the HI group compared to control group at each follow-up visit with the between group difference of -4.63 mm Hg (95% CI, -6.51 to -2.74) at week 8, -6.69 mm Hg (95% CI, -8.54 to -4.85) at week 16, -7.81 mm Hg (95% CI, -9.57 to -6.04) at week 24 for SBP, and -1.83 mm Hg (95% CI, -3.21 to -0.45) at week 8, -2.57 mm Hg (95% CI, -3.97 to -1.17) at week 16, -2.89 mm Hg (95% CI, -4.24 to -1.54) at week 24 for DBP. Patients in the HI group were more likely to attain controlled BP at the follow-up period with odds ratio of 1.44 (95% CI, 1.21-1.72) at week 8, 1.90 (95% CI, 1.59-2.27) at week 16, and 2.24 (95% CI, 1.87-2.68) at the end. The trends of subgroup and sensitivity analyses were mostly consistent with the main analysis. The incidences of AEs were similar between the HI group and control group with all p-value >0.05. Conclusion: The HI therapy is related to significant amelioration in BP levels with acceptable safety profile in Chinese hypertensive adults after 24 weeks of treatment, building a clinical ground for further research to evaluate the antihypertensive effect of HI therapy.