HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Arterial 'prehypertension': a useful concept for drug companies, useless for patients.

Abstract
(1) Elevated blood pressure is an independent and progressive cardiovascular risk factor. The risk starts to increase above a threshold of 115/75 mmHg. (2) The threshold values for blood pressure with practical implications for patients' health have been determined from clinical trial results. These are, for example, 160/95 mmHg in patients without diabetes and complications of hypertension, and 140/80 mmHg in patients with diabetes or a history of stroke. (3) A prospective cohort analysis confirmed the progressive nature of the relation between blood pressure and the risk of cardiovascular events: after about 12 years the incidence of cardiovascular events was 7% when blood pressure was less than 120/80 mmHg and 12% when it was between 130/85 and 140/90 mmHg. However, patients with these moderately elevated blood pressure values were also more likely to be diabetic. (4) The only trial involving patients with systolic pressure values between 130 and 139 mmHg, levels referred to by some as 'prehypertension', was not designed to determine either the clinical benefits or the adverse effects of treatment with candesartan. Two years after withdrawal of this antihypertensive drug, there was no statistically significant difference in the proportion of patients requiring antihypertensive treatment (threshold 160/100 mmHg). (5) In practice, 'prehypertension' is not a useful concept for patient management. The blood pressure thresholds above which the risk-benefit balance for some treatments becomes positive, in terms of morbidity or mortality, remain at 160/95 mmHg for patients without diabetes or complications and 140/80 mmHg for patients with diabetes or a history of stroke.
Authors
JournalPrescrire international (Prescrire Int) Vol. 16 Issue 88 Pg. 73-5 (Apr 2007) ISSN: 1167-7422 [Print] France
PMID17460859 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
Chemical References
  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Benzimidazoles
  • Tetrazoles
Topics
  • Antihypertensive Agents (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
  • Benzimidazoles (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
  • Blood Pressure
  • Cardiovascular Diseases (etiology, prevention & control)
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Disease Management
  • Drug Industry
  • Europe
  • Humans
  • Hypertension (classification, complications, drug therapy)
  • Risk Factors
  • Tetrazoles (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)
  • Treatment Outcome
  • United States

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: