“Go Low” or “Say No” to Aggressive Systolic BP Goals?

WHAT’S NEW
Lower SBP produces mortality benefits in those younger, and older, than 75
This trial builds on a body of evidence that shows the advantages of lowering SBP to < 150 mm Hg^7,11,12 by demonstrating benefits, including reduced all-cause mortality, for lower SBP targets in nondiabetic patients at high risk for CV disease. The SPRINT trial also showed that the benefits of intensive therapy remained true in a subgroup of patients 75 or older.

The incidence of the primary outcome in the cohort 75 or older receiving intensive therapy was 7.7%, compared with 10.9% for those receiving standard therapy (HR, 0.67; NNT, 31). All-cause mortality was also lower in the intensive therapy group than in the standard therapy group among patients 75 or older: 5.5% vs 8.04% (HR, 0.68; NNT, 38).¹

CAVEATS
Many do not benefit from—or are harmed by—increased medication
The absolute risk reduction for the primary outcome is 1.6%, meaning 98.4% of patients receiving more intensive treatment will not benefit. In a group of 1,000 patients, an estimated 16 patients will benefit, 22 patients will be seriously harmed, and 962 patients will experience neither benefit nor harm.¹⁴ The difference between how BP was measured in this trial (an average of three readings after the patient had rested for 5 minutes) and what occurs typically in clinical practice could potentially lead to overtreatment in a “real world” setting.

Also, reducing antihypertensive therapies when the SBP was about 130 to 135 mm Hg in the standard therapy group likely exaggerated the difference in outcomes between the intensive and standard therapy groups; this is neither routine nor recommended in clinical practice.⁶ Finally, the trial specifically studied nondiabetic patients at high risk for CV disease who were 50 or older, limiting generalizability to other populations.

CHALLENGES TO IMPLEMENTATION
Who will benefit/who can achieve intensive SBP goals?
Identifying patients most likely to benefit from more intensive BP targets remains challenging. The SPRINT trial showed a mortality benefit, but at a cost of increased morbidity.^1,14 Caution should be exercised particularly in the subgroup of patients 75 or older. Despite a lower NNT than the rest of the study population, this group experienced serious adverse events more frequently. Also, this particular cohort of volunteers may not be representative of those 75 or older in the general population.

Additionally, achieving intensive SBP goals can be challenging. In the SPRINT trial, only half of the intensive target group achieved an SBP < 120 mm Hg.¹ And in a 2011-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, only 52% of patients in the general population achieved a BP target < 140/90 mm Hg.¹⁵ Lower mor­bidity and mortality should remain the ultimate goals in the management of hypertension, requiring clinicians to carefully assess an individual patient’s likelihood of benefit versus harm.

REFERENCES
1. Wright JT Jr, Williamson JD, Whelton PK, et al. A randomized trial of intensive versus standard blood-pressure control. N Engl J Med. 2015;373:2103-2116.
2. Chobanian AV, Bakris GL, Black HR, et al. The seventh report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure: the JNC 7 report. JAMA. 2003;289:2560-2572.
3. Neal B, MacMahon S, Chapman N. Effects of ACE inhibitors, calcium antagonists, and other blood-pressure-lowering drugs: results of prospectively designed overviews of randomised trials.Lancet. 2000;356:1955-1964.
4. Psaty BM, Smith NL, Siscovick DS, et al. Health outcomes associated with antihypertensive therapies used as first-line agents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA. 1997;277:739-745.
5. Margolis KL, O’Connor PJ, Morgan TM, et al. Outcomes of combined cardiovascular risk factor management strategies in type 2 diabetes: the ACCORD randomized trial. Diabetes Care. 2014;37:1721-1728.
6. James PA, Oparil S, Carter BL, et al. 2014 evidence-based guideline for the management of high blood pressure in adults: report from the panel members appointed to the Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC 8).JAMA. 2014;311:507-520.
7. Beckett NS, Peters R, Fletcher AE, et al. Treatment of hypertension in patients 80 years of age or older.N Engl J Med. 2008;358:1887-1898.
8. Verdecchia P, Staessen JA, Angeli F, et al. Usual versus tight control of systolic blood pressure in non-diabetic patients with hypertension (Cardio-Sis): an open-label randomised trial. Lancet. 2009;374:525-533.
9. JATOS Study Group. Principal results of the Japanese trial to assess optimal systolic blood pressure in elderly hypertensive patients (JATOS). Hypertens Res. 2008;31:2115-2127.
10. Ogihara T, Saruta T, Rakugi H, et al. Target blood pressure for treatment of isolated systolic hypertension in the elderly: valsartan in elderly isolated systolic hypertension study. Hypertension. 2010;56:196-202.
11. Staessen JA, Fagard R, Thijs L, et al; the Systolic Hypertension in Europe (Syst-Eur) Trial Investigators. Randomised double-blind comparison of placebo and active treatment for older patients with isolated systolic hypertension.Lancet. 1997;350:757-764.
12. SHEP Cooperative Research Group. Prevention of stroke by antihypertensive drug treatment in older persons with isolated systolic hypertension: final results of the Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP). JAMA. 1991;265:3255-3264.
13. Cundiff DK, Gueyffier F, Wright JM. Guidelines for managing high blood pressure. JAMA. 2014;312:294.
14. Ortiz E, James PA. Let’s not SPRINT to judgment about new blood pressure goals. Ann Intern Med. 2016 Feb 23. [Epub ahead of print]
15. Nwankwo T, Yoon SS, Burt V, et al. Hypertension among adults in the United States: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011-2012. NCHS Data Brief. 2013;1-8.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The PURLs Surveillance System was supported in part by Grant Number UL1RR024999 from the National Center For Research Resources, a Clinical Translational Science Award to the University of Chicago. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Center For Research Resources or the National Institutes of Health.

Copyright © 2016. The Family Physicians Inquiries Network. All rights reserved.

Reprinted with permission from the Family Physicians Inquiries Network and The Journal of Family Practice. 2016;65(5):342-344.