Aussie-funded study calls for new BP guidelines

Blood pressure targets should be lowered for patients at high risk of major cardiovascular events, according to a large Australian-funded meta-analysis published in The Lancet.

The review of 19 trials involving almost 45,000 patients shows intensive management reduces the risk of myocardial infarction by about 14% and stroke by 25% compared with standard treatment. The risk of progressive retinopathy is reduced by about 20%.