Does consistently controlling blood pressure impact the risk of heart attack or stroke?

This study evaluated the association between the time patients stayed within their target blood pressure range and the occurrence of major cardiovascular events (MACE) such as heart attack, stroke, or death. They found that patients whose blood pressure stayed longer at the target level were less likely to have MACE.

High blood pressure is a well-known risk factor for heart attacks, stroke, and death. Blood pressure (BP) control is very important and a target range is usually set to ensure it stays well controlled. The standard target range for systolic BP (SBP; BP when the heart contracts) is 120-140 mmHg. However, BP tends to go up and down and is often only measured at yearly check-ups. Therefore, it is not clear how much of the time patients spend within their target range and if this affects their outcomes.

6,162 patients with high BP participated in this study. BP was measured monthly for the first three months and every three months thereafter. Calculations were done based on these measurements. These calculations showed for what percentage of the time a patient's BP was within the target range. Patients were followed up for an average of 3.3 years.

On average, most patients' BP was within the target range 47-51% of the time. Patients who spent a longer time within their target BP range were 15% less likely to suffer a MACE.

This study showed that maintaining good blood pressure levels for a greater percentage of the time resulted in a lower risk of heart attack, stroke or death.

This study was based on patients enrolled in a clinical trial. These patients may be more likely to control their blood pressure well, which may impact the results. More studies are needed to ensure these findings apply to the general population.