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Should the results of TROPHY affect the JNC 7 definition of prehypertension?

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Abstract

In the Trial of Preventing Hypertension (TROPHY), volunteers with “high normal blood pressure” were randomized to 4 years of placebo (n = 381) or 2 years of 16 mg/d of candesartan (n = 391) followed by 2 years of placebo. At 2 years, there was a 26.8% absolute and a 66.3% relative risk reduction (P < 0.0001) of hypertension in the candesartan group. At study end, the former candesartan group had a 9.8% absolute and a 15.6% relative risk reduction (P < 0.007) of hypertension. The treatment was well tolerated. The Seventh Joint National Committee (JNC 7) changed the nomenclature from “high normal blood pressure” to “prehypertension” and widened the range to 120 to 139 and/or 80 to 89 mm Hg. Our results support the term “prehypertension” only for the 130 to 139 and/or 85 to 89 mm Hg group; in 4 years two thirds of the placebo group developed hypertension. We suggest stratifying the JNC classification into “prehypertension” (130–139 and/or 85–89 mm Hg) and “high normal blood pressure” (120–129 and/or 80–84 mm Hg). By the present JNC definition, only one quarter of adult men have normal blood pressure. Removing the disease label from another 28% would appropriately focus attention on high-risk prehypertension.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Internal Medicine and Physiology, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, 24 Frank Lloyd Wright Drive, Lobby M, 3rd Floor, Ann Arbor, MI, 48106, USA

    Stevo Julius MD, ScD

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  1. Stevo Julius MD, ScD
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Correspondence to Stevo Julius MD, ScD.

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Julius, S. Should the results of TROPHY affect the JNC 7 definition of prehypertension?. Current Science Inc 9, 202–205 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-007-0036-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-007-0036-0

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