Blood pressure targets in adults with hypertension

OBJECTIVES: This is a protocol for a Cochrane review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: Primary objective To evaluate the benefits and harms of lower targets of blood pressure (BP; i.e. BP ≤ 135/85 mmHg) versus standard targets (i.e. BP ≤ 140 to 160/90 to 100 mmHg) for total mortality and morbidity in people 18 years or older, with elevated BP. Secondary objectives To evaluate the benefits and harms of lower targets versus standard targets for achieved systolic and diastolic BP in people 18 years or older, with elevated BP. To evaluate the benefits and harms of lower targets versus standard targets for withdrawals due to adverse events in people 18 years or older with elevated BP. To assess whether the effects of lower targets versus standard targets differ according to prespecified equity-related characteristics (e.g. place of residence, race/ethnicity/culture/ancestry, sex, socioeconomic status, and social capital, plus other context-specific factors, including comorbidity burden) in people 18 years or older, with elevated BP.