Antihypertensives should be prescribed to patients with a high absolute risk of CVD regardless of their hypertension status, a large meta-analysis suggests.

The benefits derived from blood pressure-lowering treatment are nearly identical in those with or without a prior CVD diagnosis, the UK researchers found.

Leading renal physician Professor Markus Schlaich, from the University of WA, said the study challenged the very idea of blood-pressure thresholds.

“If blood pressure is lowered, patients will benefit in terms of cardiovascular outcomes regardless of whether their blood pressure is just mildly or significantly elevated,” he told Australian Doctor.