RESULTS
MAIN ANALYSES
The Cardiovascular Disease Policy Model simulations accurately reproduced pooled results of trials of antihypertensive medications, and the SHEP trial simulation accurately reproduced the results of the actual trial (Tables S3 and S4 in the Supplementary Appendix). On average, on the basis of the 2014 guidelines, approximately 860,000 persons with existing cardiovascular disease and hypertension who are not being treated with anti-hypertensive medications would be eligible for treatment (secondary prevention) every year during the period from 2014 through 2024. Treatment with a target blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg for such patients was projected to prevent approximately 16,000 cardiovascular events (Table 3) and approximately 6000 deaths from cardiovascular causes annually.