The Truth About Blood-Pressure Numbers

Is a blood pressure less than 120/80mm Hg healthier than a higher blood pressure?  Scientists randomly assigned 9,361 subjects with systolic blood pressure of 130 mm Hg or higher and increased cardiovascular risk, but without diabetes, to two groups.  The intensive treatment group had a systolic blood-pressure target of less than 120 mm Hg while the standard treatment group had a systolic blood pressure target of less than 140mm Hg.  This study is known as the SPRINT trial.  The end point of the study was the difference in cardiovascular endpoints—heart attacks, stroke, heart failure or death from cardiovascular causes.

The study was stopped early at 3.26 years due to a 27% lowered all-cause mortality rate in the intensively treated group.  Furthermore, there was a 25% lowered rate of the primary composite outcome—which is measured by averaging all the cardiovascular outcomes.  (New England Journal  of Medicine.  November 9, 2015)

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