Aggressive Blood Pressure Management Offers Greater Health Benefits

Research led by investigators astatine Mass General Brigham suggests that nan wellness benefits of much fierce humor unit power outweigh concerns astir overtreating group pinch precocious humor unit readings. Results of nan simulation study are published successful Annals of Internal Medicine. 

The study utilized information from nan Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) trial, nan National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), and different published lit to simulate life wellness outcomes-including bosom attack, stroke, and bosom failure-for patients whose systolic humor unit targets were group astatine <120 mm Hg, <130 mm Hg, and <140 mm Hg.

Recognizing that humor unit medicine comes pinch broadside effects, nan researchers besides simulated and compared nan consequence of superior events resulting from nan treatment. 

The simulation exemplary besides accounted for communal errors successful patients' humor unit readings based connected what has been observed successful regular objective practice. 

Even erstwhile including this correction rate, nan simulation exemplary recovered that nan <120 mm Hg target prevented much cardiovascular events, specified arsenic bosom attacks, strokes, and bosom failure, than nan <130 mm Hg target. However, nan little target led to further adverse events related to treatment, specified arsenic falls, kidney injury, hypotension, and bradycardia. The little target besides accrued wide healthcare spending owed to accrued antihypertensive usage and much predominant visits pinch clinicians. 

Comparing nan cost-effectiveness of nan 3 humor unit targets pinch emblematic levels of measurement error, nan researchers recovered nan <120 mm Hg target was cost-effective, associated pinch a costs of $42,000 per quality-adjusted life-year gained. 

This study should springiness patients astatine precocious cardiovascular consequence and their clinicians much assurance successful pursuing an intensive humor unit goal. Our findings propose nan intensive <120 mm Hg target prevents much cardiovascular events and provides bully value, and this holds existent moreover erstwhile measurements aren't perfect."

Karen Smith, PhD, Study Lead Author and Investigator, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital

Smith is besides a founding personnel of nan Mass General Brigham healthcare system.

Smith besides cautioned, "Our results analyse nan cost-effectiveness of intensive curen astatine nan organization level. However, fixed nan further consequence of adverse events related to antihypertensives, intensive curen will not beryllium optimal for each patients. Patients and clinicians should activity together to find nan due medicine strength based connected diligent preferences."