Long-term BPV is an Independent Risk Factor for Renal Prognosis in Hypertensive Patients - a Post-hoc Analysis of the SPRINT Study.

Background

Long-term blood pressure variability (BPV) reflects fluctuations in BP over time, which may indicate instability in precise blood pressure control. We conducted a post hoc analysis of the data from the SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial) to assess the effect and associated variables of BPV on the renal prognosis of patients with hypertension.

Methods

Excluding patients with CKD, the systolic blood pressure (SBP) at the 1st, 6th, and 12th follow-up months were employed to calculate the SBP coefficient of variation (CV) which represented BPV. Patients were divided into four groups based on the quartiles of BPV, namely Q1 to Q4.

Results

Group Q4 patients had higher baseline SBP. Multiple regression identified age, sex, treatment, current smoker, SBP, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), renin-angiotensin-system inhibitors (RASi), β-receptor antagonists, calcium channel blockers (CCBs), and other medications use were factors associated with BPV. The survival analysis showed that group Q4 had significantly more renal outcome events, and BPV was independently associated with the risk of renal outcome events (HR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.23 - 1.54, P < 0.001). There was a direct correlation between the BPV and risk of renal outcomes when BPV exceeded 0.037. In addition, the RASi preference group reported a significantly higher incidence of renal outcome events compared to the non-preference group (log-rank test χ² = 6.218, P = 0.013) and exhibited a tendency towards higher BPV.

Conclusions

High BPV is an independent risk factor for renal outcome events in hypertensive aging patients. The preference of RASi use can increase renal outcome events, but is not related to the rise in BPV. These findings suggest that in elderly hypertensive patients with elevated BPV, the potential risks of RASi-associated renal outcomes may outweigh its established benefits, necessitating cautious consideration of alternative antihypertensive strategies.