2.1. Study design
hypertensive
HYPERTENSION
This study is a randomized, controlled pilot trial with 3 parallel groups. A total of 120 hypertensive patients meeting the inclusion criteria will be recruited and then randomly allocated to 3 groups of 40 patients each. All 3 groups will receive 4 weeks of usual care, and TEAS intervention groups will be additionally treated with TEAS treatment (2 Hz or 10 Hz). We will keep the stimulation location, duration, waveform, and other parameters the same for comparing the effects of different frequencies of TEAS in hypertension. The study protocol has obtained approval from the ethics committee of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (No. 2022BZYLL1207), as well as registration at the Chinese clinical trial registry (ChiCTR2200067147). The protocol will be reported in compliance with the Standard Protocol Items (SPIRIT). The outline of the study protocol is displayed in a flow chart (Fig. Flow chart of the trial. TEAS = transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation.Schedule of the trial process.