# Exercise vs. Heat Therapy Effects on Kidney Function in Adults with Untreated Hypertension

> **NIH NIH F32** · UNIVERSITY OF OREGON · 2022 · $70,082

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Hypertension is the leading risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD). A recently published 30-year
prospective cohort study revealed that the annual rate of decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)
is exacerbated in adults with hypertension. Moreover, if albumin is present in the urine (i.e., albumuria), the
annual reductions in eGFR are further exacerbated in adults with hypertension. Angiotensin converting enzyme
inhibitors (ACEi) and angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (ARBs) are recommended to treat hypertension
and for their ability to reduce albuminuria. However, ~54% of adults with hypertension with the highest
classification of albuminuria are not currently undergoing treatment with ACEi/ARBs. Thus, there is
tremendous opportunity to better develop non-pharmacological approaches that are effective at lowering blood
pressure and reducing albuminuria. Unfortunately, however, exercise may not be ideal because only ~45% of
patients with hypertension adhere to recommendations for physical activity and some individuals may be
unwilling or have limitations where exercise is less feasible. There has been an uptick in research investigating
the vast health benefits of heat therapy. Heat therapy refers to the use of frequent episodic increases in core
temperature induced by exposures to hot environments, such as sauna bathing or hot water immersion, that
ultimately induces beneficial health adaptations. In healthy adults, short-term heat therapy has been shown to
reduce the incidence of albuminuria. However, a critical knowledge gap remains if heat therapy provides
beneficial adaptations for the kidneys in adults with hypertension, including reducing albuminuria which would
lower the risk for CKD. The current study aims investigate whether heat therapy is effective at lowering blood
pressure and albuminuria in adults with hypertension. We will compare if 30 sessions of passive heat therapy
using hot water immersion over 8-10 weeks reduces albuminuria in adults with untreated Elevated or Stage 1
Hypertension to a greater extent than 30 sessions of exercise training over the same time period. Additionally,
we will determine whether 30 sessions of passive heat therapy reduces urinary NGAL to a greater extent than
exercise training in adults with untreated Elevated or Stage 1 Hypertension. Demonstrating that heat therapy
can be used as a novel treatment for Elevated and Stage 1 Hypertension is timely and important as there is a
clear need for alternatives to exercise training and pharmacological approaches.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10466060
- **Project number:** 1F32HL164021-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
- **Principal Investigator:** Christopher L Chapman
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $70,082
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-05-01 → 2024-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10466060

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10466060, Exercise vs. Heat Therapy Effects on Kidney Function in Adults with Untreated Hypertension (1F32HL164021-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10466060. Licensed CC0.

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