Hypertension represents a major cardiovascular risk factor worldwide.
In Belgium, chronic kidney disease is mainly related to either diabetes or hypertension. In patients with chronic kidney disease, the aim of antihypertensive therapy is to delay the decline in glomerular filtration rate and reduce cardiovascular event occurrence. Blood pressure targets <140/90-85mmHg are recommended in patients with chronic kidney disease, with likely added benefits when targeting blood pressure values <130/80mmHg for patients with hypertension and overt proteinuria. It is still too early to find out whether the SPRINT study will likely modify blood pressure targets to <120/80 mmHg for these patients.
What is already known about the topic?
Treating hypertension reduces both cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Blood pressure targets are based on evidence originating from large randomized and controlled trials.
What does this article bring up for us?
In comparison with conventional targets, a more strict blood pressure control should first be proven to be associated with cardiovascular benefits in terms of cardiovascular prevention before allowing us to modify evidence-based practices.
Key Words
Hypertension, chronic kidney disease, proteinuria, targets, recommendations, cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, J-curve