Studies Add to the Growing Uncertainty about Blood Pressure Treatment Targets

Two studies question blood pressure targets in patients with hypertension. In a JAMA Internal Medicine study of 77,765 CKD patients with uncontrolled hypertension who were followed for a median of 6 years, patients with strict systolic blood pressure (SBP) control (<120 mm Hg) had a 70% increased risk of death compared to patients with SPB between 120 and 139 mm Hg, after adjustments. In aJournal of the American College of Cardiology study of 398,419 treated hypertensive patients, systolic and diastolic pressures higher and lower than 130–139 mm Hg systolic and 60–79 mg Hg diastolic were linked with an increased risk of death and ESRD.