A Randomized Trial of Intensive vs Standard Blood-Pressure Control

Blood pressure as described by the SPRINT Research Group is the pressure applied by circulating blood on the surface or walls of blood vessels. Its assessment relates to  both the optimum (systolic) and the minimum ( also referred to as diastolic) pressure as recorded in the blood vessels.In the United States alone,  hypertension cases are on a sharp rise among the adult population, especially for the individuals whose ages range from 60 years and above. At a global stage, more than 1 billion persons are victims or face a risk of falling ill in the foreseeable future. Among the aging population, isolated systolic hypertension is the form of the disease. In fact, it is arguable that high blood pressure is more critical than diastolic blood pressure. As such, it is one of the most prevalent risk predictors for coronary diseases, heart failure, and stroke. Medical researchers are yet to zero in on an ideal way to lower maximum blood pressure for cardiovascular distress and death among persons not suffering from diabetes to be managed effectively (2103).

Objective

A SPRINT researchers’ study entailed random collection of data from a sampled population of 9361 persons. Such individuals had symptoms of systolic blood pressure. The measurement was as high as 120mm Hg. Worth noting is that the sampled population were nondiabetic. The study outcome indicated that cardiovascular arrest was the sole cause of death among the individuals suffering from heart failure, myocardial obstruction, or other severe coronary diseases. 

Study Design

The researchers did not include a section of the population suffering from stroke and diabetes. SPRINT researchers categorized the study subjects into two: standard treatment and intensive treatment. Antihypertensive agents such as diuretics, and angiotensin-changing-enzyme inhibitors and calcium channel blockers are some of the drugs used for the study. During a trial time, the research professionals gave two to three types of drugs to both the standard and intensive treatment patients, however, the drug specifications depended on the patient category (The SPRINT Research Group 2104-2106).

Results

It is clear that systolic blood pressure declined to an average of 121.4mm Hg when the researchers applied medication to the study subjects for a period of 1 year. The outcome was particularly positive and more prevalent in individuals scheduled for intensive treatment. On the other hand, while standard treatment category sample results narrowed down to 136.2 mmHg. After a period of three years, the study subjects were de-medicated following the subsiding lethality of blood pressure disease for both intensive and standard treatment group. Still, the researchers made  a long-term follow-up for the patients in case of re-emergence of the condition. Even more impressive, the death rates was almost insignificant for the intensive treatment group. The final results indicated that severe kidney failure, cases of syncope, and serious high blood pressure complications were less common for the standard treatment category as compared to the patients that required intensive treatment (The SPRINT Research Group 2106).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the researchers found out that life was hardly lost by patients that exhibited high exposure for cardiovascular conditions but did not suffer from diabetic ailments, especially those diagnosed with systolic blood pressure that ranged between 129mm Hg -40mm Hg. Clinically, the study implies that if cardiovascular diseases are treated but not well managed, more complications are more likely to ensue for the patients than not. There is a wide range of drugs that can minimize the risks posed by cardiovascular diseases among the vulnerable persons. SPRINT researchers’ trial tests prove that indeed,  particular drugs have a potential for  lowering blood pressure for high-risk individuals in the society. Notably, hypertension cases require a combination approach (different drugs) to manage high blood pressure (The SPRINT Research Group 2114).

Works Cited

The SPRINT Research Group. “A randomized trial of intensive versus standard blood-pressure control.” The New England Journal of Medicine. 373.22 (2015): 2103-2115. Print.