SPRINT Trial: Intensive Blood Pressure Control Reduces Risk of LVH

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Elsayed Z. Soliman MD, MSc, MS, FAHA, FACC Director, Epidemiological Cardiology Research Center (EPICARE) Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Prevention Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiology Section Wake Forest School of Medicine Medical Center Blvd, Winston Salem, NC 27157

Dr. Soliman

Elsayed Z. Soliman MD, MSc, MS, FAHA, FACC
Director, Epidemiological Cardiology Research Center (EPICARE)
Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Prevention
Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiology Section
Wake Forest School of Medicine
Medical Center Blvd, Winston Salem, NC 27157

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: We already know that left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH, which is the most common complication of high blood pressure, is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We also know that successful management of high blood pressure (BP) leads to regression of LVH and improved CVD outcomes in patients with hypertension. However, it is unknown whether intensive BP lowering beyond that recommended would reduce the risk of LVH in patients with hypertension, and whether reducing the risk of LVH explains the reported CVD benefits of intensive BP lowering in this population. Therefore, we examined the differential impact of intensive BP lowering (target systolic BP (SBP).

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?

Response: We found that intensive blood pressure lowering (target systolic BP<120 mmHg), compared with standard BP lowering (target systolic BP<140 mmHg), resulted in lower rates of developing new LVH in those without LVH, and higher rates of regression of LVH in those with existing LVH. However, This favorable effect on LVH did not explain most of the reduction in CVD events associated with intensive BP lowering in the SPRINT trial.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: These findings add further evidence of the benefits of the intensive blood pressure lowering in patients with hypertension, and suggest that these benefits go beyond reducing the hemodynamic stress on the cardiac structure.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: Further research is needed to understand the mediating factors and the mechanisms by which intensive blood pressure lowering impacts the cardiovascular system. This may help identifying those who could get most of the benefits of intensive blood pressure lowering.

No disclosures

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Citation:

Effect of Intensive Blood Pressure Lowering on Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Patients with Hypertension: The Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention (SPRINT) Trial
Elsayed Z. Soliman, Walter T. Ambrosius, William C. Cushman, Zhu-Ming Zhang, Jeffrey T. Bates, Javier A. Neyra, Thaddeus Y. Carson, Leonardo Tamariz, Lama Ghazi, Monique E. Cho, Brian P. Shapiro, Jiang He, Lawrence J. Fine, Cora E. Lewis
and for the SPRINT Research Study Group
https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.117.028441

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Last Updated on May 17, 2017 by Marie Benz MD FAAD