September 24, 2015 – High Blood Pressure Treatment

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Anchor lead:  A major new study seems to portend a sea change in blood pressure management, Elizabeth Tracey reports

Blood pressure targets have been under a lot of scrutiny in the last few years, with many experts suggesting relaxation of the guidelines as people age.  Now that may change with the early termination of a major study known by the acronym SPRINT, which showed a clear benefit with lower pressures. Patricia Davidson, dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and a cardiovascular disease expert, comments.

Davidson: Treating to targets is one thing but it doesn’t make any compensation for the importance of individualized clinical assessment. These large studies, there’s always a challenge in translating those studies into the real world, because we know that often clinical trials have very select populations.  People are excluded if they have severe renal impairment, and or cognitive dysfunction.  This will be another chapter in translating evidence into practice.  :31

Davidson says for now, all who are taking blood pressure medicines should talk with their doctor.  At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.