Purpose of review: The Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial demonstrated significant decreases in cardiovascular events and total mortality with intensive systolic blood pressure lowering in adults with high cardiovascular risk in the absence of diabetes but benefits were accompanied by increased risk of adverse events.
Recent findings: Over 100,000 deaths and 46,000 cases of heart failure may be prevented annually if intensive systolic blood pressure lowering is implemented in 17 million US adults who are age 50 years and older, and have high cardiovascular risk in the absence of diabetes and meet eligibility for the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial. However, the benefits of intensive SBP lowering will be accompanied by an excess of 43,000 cases of electrolyte abnormalities and 88,000 cases of acute kidney injury. Physicians should consider implementation of intensive systolic blood pressure lowering in appropriate patients who understand the risks and benefits of this intervention.
Keywords: Acute kidney injury; Adverse events; Blood pressure; Cardiovascular mortality; Heart failure; Intensive systolic blood pressure lowering; Mortality; SPRINT trial.