What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cohort. Population: Uncontrolled hypertension (n=83). Intervention: Radiofrequency renal denervation. Primary outcome: Change in office systolic blood pressure at 60 months (MD -32 mm Hg, 95% CI -44 to -21, p=<0.01).

What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate the long-term effects of radiofrequency renal denervation on blood pressure in patients with uncontrolled hypertension.

June 3, 2026

Sustained 5-Year Blood Pressure Reduction by Radiofrequency Renal Denervation in Uncontrolled Hypertension: The Swedish Registry for Renal Denervation

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

Radiofrequency renal denervation provided sustained 5-year reductions in office systolic blood pressure of 32 mm Hg (95% CI -44 to -21; P<0.01) in patients with uncontrolled hypertension.

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Radiofrequency renal denervation provides significant and sustained blood pressure reductions over 5 years in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Q: What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate the long-term effects of radiofrequency renal denervation on blood pressure in patients with uncontrolled hypertension.

Key Result

Radiofrequency renal denervation provided sustained 5-year reductions in office systolic blood pressure of 32 mm Hg (95% CI -44 to -21; P<0.01) in patients with uncontrolled hypertension.

Key Points

To evaluate the long-term effects of radiofrequency renal denervation on blood pressure in patients with uncontrolled hypertension.
Evaluation of 83 patients undergoing radiofrequency renal denervation from a national registry in Sweden
Follow-up assessments at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months
Statistical analysis using linear mixed effects models adjusted for age and number of antihypertensive drugs.
Systolic blood pressure reductions at 60 months were -32 mm Hg (office) and -8 mm Hg (24-h ABPM)
Significant overall reductions in blood pressure (P(overall) <0.01) across all follow-up points
eGFR showed a clinically insignificant decline of -9 ml/min/m2 at 60 months.

Study Design

Type

Cohort (n=83)

Multicenter

Structured PICO

Does radiofrequency renal denervation reduce blood pressure in patients with uncontrolled hypertension?

Population

83 patients (mean age 58 years, 41% female) with uncontrolled hypertension undergoing radiofrequency renal denervation at a single institution, followed for 5 years.

Exposure

Radiofrequency renal denervation (RDN)

Outcome

Sustained blood pressure reduction (office BP and 24-h ABPM) at up to 60 months follow-upsurrogate

Radiofrequency renal denervation provides significant and sustained blood pressure reductions over 5 years in patients with uncontrolled hypertension.

Main Result

Mean Difference: -32 (95% CI -44–-21)

p-value: p=<0.01

Abstract

Objective: Renal denervation (RDN) is a complementary treatment option for uncontrolled hypertension. Studies on sustained long-term blood pressure (BP) reduction are few. We here report on sustained 5-year BP reductions from the Swedish Registry for Renal Denervation. Design and method: All RDN procedures in Sweden are included in a national registry. We evaluated all 83 patients undergoing radiofrequency RDN in our institution 2011–25 for uncontrolled (resistant or drug intolerance) hypertension. Patients with secondary hypertension, eGFR <30 ml/min/m2, significant valvular disease, recent coronary or cerebrovascular events, pregnancy, or major renal artery abnormalities were ineligible. Follow-up was scheduled at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months. Means ± SD are shown, while linear mixed effects models (adjusted for age and number of antihypertensive drugs) display estimated marginal means with 95% CI. Results: Mean age was 58±13 years, 41% were female, 39% previous and 11% current smokers, 21% had diabetes, 19% chronic kidney disease, 5% heart failure, and 22% coronary artery disease or a previous TIA/stroke. Baseline office BP and average 24-h ABPM were 175±25/95±18 and 153±20/88±15 mm Hg, eGFR 74 ml/min/m2, and number of antihypertensive drugs 3.7±0.3. Changes at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months in office systolic and diastolic BP were -11 -3;-18, -18 -11;-26, -24 -15;-32, -31 -22;-40, -30 -20;-40, -32 -21;-44 and -2 +3;-7, -6 -1;-11, -9 -4;-14, -10 -4;-15, -10 -4;-17, -12 -5;-19 mm Hg for 75, 73, 66, 67, 59, and 54 patients, respectively; and in 24-h ABPM -2 +3;-12, -14 -8;-20, -12 -5;-18, -13 -6;-21, -7 +3;-16, -8 +2;-18 and -1.3 +3;-3, -7 -3;-11, -2 +2;-6, -8 -3;-13, -7 -1;-11, -8 -1;-14 mm Hg for 50, 41 32, 20, 14, and 13 patients, respectively. This indicates sustained 5-year reductions in both systolic and diastolic office and average 24-h ABPM values (all P(overall) <0.01). Number of antihypertensive drugs remained similar throughout, 3.8±0.3 at 60 months. There was a slow progressive decline in eGFR (-9±2 ml/min/m2) at 60 months, however not deemed clinically significant. Conclusions: Radiofrequency RDN offers significant and sustained 5-year BP reductions in patients with uncontrolled hypertension.

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