Gut check: bacteria linked to blood pressure in new study

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria General Inclusion (applies to all participants) 1. Adults aged 18 years or older. 2. Able and willing to provide a stool sample for gut microbiota analysis. 3. Able to understand and sign written informed consent prior to participation. Cohort-Specific Inclusion A. Untreated Hypertension Group (Newly Diagnosed) 1. Newly diagnosed hypertension, defined as: Office blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg, confirmed by at least two measurements on separate visits; or 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM): mean ≥130/80 mmHg, or daytime ≥135/85 mmHg, or nighttime ≥120/70 mmHg. 2. Never received any antihypertensive medication prior to enrollment. B. Uncontrolled Hypertension Group (On Medication) 1. Established hypertension, under stable antihypertensive therapy for ≥4 weeks. 2. Blood pressure not at target, defined as: Office BP ≥140/90 mmHg, or 24-hour ABPM mean ≥130/80 mmHg (daytime ≥135/85 mmHg, nighttime ≥120/70 mmHg). 3. No planned medication changes until stool sampling is completed. C. Healthy Control Groups 1. No history of hypertension or antihypertensive medication use. 2. Office BP \<130/80 mmHg (average of 2-3 readings). 3. Free from major chronic or gastrointestinal diseases. Exclusion Criteria 1. Use of antibiotics, probiotics, or prebiotics within the previous 3 months, or bowel preparation for colonoscopy within 4 weeks. 2. Chronic gastrointestinal diseases (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease) or history of major gastrointestinal surgery (including bariatric surgery). 3. Presence of major chronic diseases that may confound gut microbiota or blood pressure regulation, including: Coronary artery disease (CAD) or other significant cardiovascular diseases; Diabetes mellitus (type 1 or type 2); Chronic kidney disease (stage ≥3); Chronic liver disease or hepatic failure; Heart failure (NYHA class III-IV); Active malignancy or history of cancer within the past 5 years. 4. Pregnancy or lactation. 5. Acute infection, acute gastrointestinal symptoms, or hospitalization within the past 4 weeks. 6. Special restrictive diets (e.g., ketogenic, elimination, or medically prescribed weight-loss diets) or alcohol/substance abuse that may alter gut microbiota. 7. Any other condition that, in the investigator's opinion, could interfere with participation, data integrity, or sample quality.