Intensive SBP lowering may prevent over 100,000 deaths in the U.S. annually, study finds

Intensive systolic blood pressure (SBP) lowering may prevent more than 100,000 deaths in the United States each year, according to a study that will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2016 November 15¬-20 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL.

The Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) trial found that intensive systolic SBP lowering (≤120 mm Hg) prolonged life compared with standard SBP lowering (≤140 mm Hg) in adults aged ≥50 years who were at high risk for cardiovascular disease but who did not have diabetes or a history of stroke.

When Tisha Joerla Tan, MD (Loyola University Medical Center) and her colleagues applied the study's findings to similar individuals in the general US population, an estimated 18.1 million US adults met SPRINT criteria and intensive SBP lowering was projected to prevent approximately 107,500 deaths per year. "Our analyses also showed that more than 4 million adults with stage 3-4 chronic kidney disease meet SPRINT criteria, and intensive SBP lowering was projected to prevent 32,800 deaths per year in this group," said Dr. Tan.

Source: American Society of Nephrology