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Optimal Blood Pressure Goals in Patients With Hypertension at High Risk for Cardiovascular Events

Wilbert S Aronow1

  • 1Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY.

American Journal of Therapeutics
|April 18, 2013
PubMed

Insights

For patients younger than 80 with hypertension and high cardiovascular risk, blood pressure should be <140/90 mm Hg. For those 80 and older, systolic blood pressure goal is 140-145 mm Hg if tolerated.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Nephrology
  • Endocrinology
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Hypertension poses significant cardiovascular risks.
  • High-risk patients include those with coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, stroke, or heart failure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review evidence supporting specific blood pressure goals for high-risk hypertensive patients.
  • To guide treatment strategies for preventing cardiovascular events.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of existing epidemiologic and clinical trial data.
  • Discussion of studies focusing on patients with comorbidities like coronary artery disease, diabetes, kidney disease, stroke, and heart failure.

Main Results:

  • Evidence supports a blood pressure goal of <140/90 mm Hg for hypertensive patients younger than 80 at high cardiovascular risk.
  • For patients aged 80 years and older, a systolic blood pressure goal of 140-145 mm Hg is recommended if tolerated.

Conclusions:

  • Lowering blood pressure to <140/90 mm Hg is crucial for high-risk patients under 80.
  • Age-adjusted systolic blood pressure targets are necessary for older adults to minimize cardiovascular event risk.

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