The impact of SPRINT on the future treatment of hypertension: a mini review.

ABSTRACT

Blood pressure (BP) control is associated with a significant decrease in the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke and chronic kidney disease (CKD), and U.S. treatment guidelines in 2003 and 2007 recommended a BP reduction to <140/90 mmHg for uncomplicated hypertension and to <130/80 mmHg for hypertension complicated by CAD, diabetes mellitus (DM) or CKD. In hopes of further decreasing the adverse effects of hypertension, more aggressive lowering of systolic blood pressure (SBP) was tested. However, this aggressive control of SBP did not materialize in additional cardiac benefits, and in fact resulted in worsening of cardiovascular and renal complications with the exception of stroke. These findings led national committees in 2014 and 2015 to draw up new guidelines recommending a relaxation of BP control based on recent clinical evidence, until publication of SPRINT. This National Institutes of Health (NIH)-sponsored study showed that aggressive SBP lowering to <120 mmHg was beneficial in further decreasing the risk of CVD, CVD mortality and strokes. The results of this study will most likely lead to the revision of current guidelines and to the recommendation of stricter BP control. However, the results of SPRINT are not final and still are in contrast with other recent studies. Until new guidelines become available, we should follow the current ones, or move closer to older guidelines depending on the clinical situation. A return to BP <140/90 mmHg for older subjects or uncomplicated hypertension and to <130/80 mmHg for hypertension complicated by CAD, DM and CKD may be appropriate.