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Unanswered Questions Regarding Blood Pressure Management for HF Prevention

  • Hypertension and the Heart (Bharathi Upadhya, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Hypertension Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Evaluate the relevant new findings regarding hypertension treatment and heart failure prevention published in the past 3 years.

Recent Findings

In a recent secondary analysis of Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT), randomization of more than 9000 patients > 50 years old with high cardiovascular risk but without diabetes to intensive treatment targeting blood pressure < 120/80 mmHg compared to standard treatment targeting < 140/90 mmHg significantly reduced incident heart failure. While such benefits outweighed potential harm, adverse events including renal dysfunction, hypotension, and syncope occurred more frequently with intensive treatment. Following SPRINT, existing guidelines differ in their recommendations and controversies still exist. Key persistent questions include the role of intensive treatment in younger adults and those at lower cardiovascular risk and optimal approaches to translate clinical trial findings into clinical practice in a sustainable fashion.

Summary

Aggressively treating hypertension to targets below 120/80 mmHg prevents heart failure in high-risk patients. However, evidence is lacking to younger patients and those at lower cardiovascular risk.

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References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA, 02445, USA

    Sergio H. R. Ramalho & Amil M. Shah

  2. Health Sciences and Technologies Program, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil

    Sergio H. R. Ramalho

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  1. Sergio H. R. Ramalho
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  2. Amil M. Shah
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Correspondence to Amil M. Shah.

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Ramalho, S.H.R., Shah, A.M. Unanswered Questions Regarding Blood Pressure Management for HF Prevention. Curr Hypertens Rep 21, 7 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-019-0908-0

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