Blood pressure goals and patient-reported outcomes in patients with hypertension

Hypertension is very common among the adult population in the United States of America (29.0%), especially among individuals aged greater than 60 years (64.9%). The optimal blood pressure (BP) goal during treatment of hypertension has been controversial. Assessment of patient-reported outcomes (PRO), such as the health status, excellence of the life, and satisfaction with care, has important implications for BP guidelines in population. The previously published results of the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) showed that among participants with hypertension and an increased cardiovascular risk, but without diabetes, the rates of cardiovascular events were lower among those who were assigned to a target systolic BP of less than 120 mmHg (intensive treatment) than among those who were assigned to a target of less than 140 mmHg (standard treatment). In addition, PRO among participants who received intensive treatment were similar to those among participants who received standard treatment, including among participants with decreased physical or cognitive function. The new recommendations modified the target goal BP for those with diabetes mellitus or renal diseases to <140/90 mmHg, regardless of age. In the future further studies of PRO in individual groups (such as the elderly, patients with diabetes mellitus or patients with chronic kidney disease) need to be evaluated.