Treatment Goals
Epidemiological analyses show that
blood pressure .115/75 mmHg is associated
with increased cardiovascular
event rates and mortality in individuals
with diabetes and that SBP .120 mmHg
predicts long-term end-stage renal disease.
Randomized clinical trials have
demonstrated the benefit (reduction of
CHD events, stroke, and diabetic kidney
disease) of lowering blood pressure to
,140 mmHg systolic and ,90 mmHg
diastolic in individuals with diabetes
(6). There is limited prespecified clinical
trial evidence for the benefits of lower
SBP or DBP targets (7). A meta-analysis
of randomized trials of adults with type
2 diabetes comparing intensive blood
pressure targets (upper limit of 130
mmHg systolic and 80 mmHg diastolic)
to standard targets (upper limit of 140–
160 mmHg systolic and 85–100 mmHg
diastolic) found no significant reduction
in mortality or nonfatal myocardial infarction
(MI). There was a statistically
significant 35% relative risk (RR) reduction
in stroke with intensive targets, but
the absolute risk reduction was only 1%,
and intensive targets were associated
with an increased risk for adverse events
such as hypotension and syncope (8).
Given the epidemiological relationship
between lower blood pressure
and better long-term clinical outcomes,
two landmark trials, Action to Control
Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD)
and Action in Diabetes and Vascular
Disease: Preterax and Diamicron MR
Controlled Evaluation–Blood Pressure
(ADVANCE-BP), were conducted in the
past decade to examine the benefit of
tighter blood pressure control in patients
with type 2 diabetes.