Achieving Intensive Systolic Blood Pressure Control

the reduction of CVD risk with sustained BP lowering over a relatively long period and by demonstrating the benefit of early initiation of intensive BP lowering with a diminishing CVD reduction if treatment is delayed. Multiple analyses have reported that intensive vs standard SBP goals produce costs per quality-adjusted life years gained that are below accepted willingness-to-pay levels. 6 A time-to-benefit analysis found that 9, 19, and 34 months of intensive SBP lowering was needed to prevent 1 major adverse cardiovascular event per 500, 200, and 100 patients, respectively. 5 The authors concluded that an intensive SBP goal may be appropriate for adults with a life expectancy of 3 or more years, which can be assessed with the use of a validated life expectancy calculator.