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Tuesday 1 March 2016

Authors Urge Caution Before Adopting New Systolic BP Goals

Small absolute benefit seen in SPRINT must be balanced with increased adverse event rates

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 24, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- A small reduction as the primary composite outcome may not justify the increased adverse events and costs associated with an intervention targeting systolic blood pressure (BP) less than 120 mm Hg, according to an Ideas and Opinions piece published online Feb. 23 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Eduardo Ortiz, M.D., M.P.H., from Washington D.C., and Paul A. James, M.D., from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, discuss the results of the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT), which were promoted before publication. The results showed a risk reduction in the primary composite outcome with a lower target systolic BP.

The researchers note that based on the results, for 1,000 persons treated over 3.2 years with a systolic BP target of less than 120 mm Hg versus 140 mm Hg, 16 persons would benefit, 22 would be seriously harmed, and 962 would experience no benefits or harms. In addition to a small decrease in event rates, the aggressively treated group more frequently had serious adverse drug events, which were possibly or definitely related to the intervention.

"We do not believe that the small absolute benefit seen in SPRINT provides convincing evidence that large segments of the population should be treated with additional drugs to a systolic BP goal less than 120 mm Hg, especially when the adverse events, costs, and burden of such treatment are considered," the authors write.

http://www.physiciansbriefing.com/

Graham

3 comments:

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

This message is for Jan! Hi there! Thank you so much for coming by to visit my blog. Yes, I am back! Only once a month but at least I got my comments to work again! Wishing you all the best and most healthy new year!

Lowcarb team member said...

Thank you for your good wishes - as I said it was so good to see you back and your photo's are just stunning.
Have a Happy,and healthy, month of March.

All the best Jan

chris c said...

Yes folks, using drugs to treat BP that isn't high can have consequences. How much money was wasted in proving this?