How low should blood pressure be in patients with chronic coronary and cerebrovascular diseases

Over the last three decades, there are an increasing number of investigators and meta-analyses focusing on the fact that lowering blood pressure levels below a critical point is no longer beneficial and possibly even delete-rious. In recent years, several trials and meta-analyses assessing intensive blood pressure (BP) lowering found that intensive treatment and lower blood pressure levels are associated with a reduction in CV events and mortality. However, a careful examination of the results shows that current data are not easily applicable to the general hypertensive population. In addition, recommendations of different guidelines since 2017 so far suggest different BP levels regarding the systolic and diastolic thresholds to be achieved and maintained, particularly in specific clinical situations such as patients with coronary artery disease and stroke. The challenge is to better define the limits of intervention and to define phenotypes of patients who are particularly vulnerable to over-aggressive lowering of blood pressure. This article reviews the evidence, controversies and current state of knowledge regarding intensive BP lowering and the lower thresholds of BP to be achieved in patients with chronic coronary or cerebrovascular diseases.

Automated summary

Over the past three decades, there has been an increasing focus on the fact that lowering blood pressure below a critical point may no longer be beneficial, but possibly harmful. Recent trials and meta-analyses have found that intensive blood pressure lowering can reduce cardiovascular events and mortality, but the data may not be applicable to the general hypertensive population. Different guidelines recommend different blood pressure thresholds for specific clinical situations, such as coronary artery disease and stroke, creating a challenge in determining the limits of intervention and identifying vulnerable patients.