Antihypertensives Help Prevent Cardiovascular Events in CKD Patients

In a BMJ analysis of 26 trials that included more than 152,000 individuals (including more than 30,000 with stage 3 or higher CKD), blood pressure–lowering regimens reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events by about a sixth per 5 mm Hg reduction in systolic blood pressure in individuals with and without reduced eGFR. The results were similar regardless of whether blood pressure was reduced by regimens based on angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, calcium antagonists, or diuretics/β blockers. The effects of different drug classes on major cardiovascular events did not seem to vary between patients with different eGFR.