Blood pressure studies link intensive reduction to heart protection

A meta-analysis of 27 studies involving nearly 90,000 participants indicates that intensive blood pressure reduction significantly lowers the risk of heart attacks and strokes. The findings show that for every 10 mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure, major cardiovascular events decrease measurably. Notably, this benefit extends to individuals with chronic kidney disease.

While intensive reduction may cause a short-term decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), the analysis found no increased risk of kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplantation. This suggests a beneficial compromise between protecting the heart and maintaining kidney function.

In clinical diagnostics, a diastolic blood pressure of 90 mmHg serves as the threshold for hypertension. For a reliable diagnosis, medical standards typically require systolic values of at least 140 mmHg or diastolic values of at least 90 mmHg recorded on three separate days. For home monitoring, a threshold of 135/85 mmHg is considered a warning sign.