In a trial involving patients with
type 2 diabetes mellitus, the rate of major cardiovascular
events was similar with a systolic bloodpressure
target of less than 120 mm Hg and the
commonly recommended target of less than
140 mm Hg, though the rate of stroke was
lower with the target of less than 120 mm Hg.22
A recent trial involving patients who had had a
stroke compared treatment to lower systolic blood
pressure to less than 130 mm Hg with treatment
to lower it to less than 150 mm Hg and showed
no significant benefit of the lower target with
respect to the overall risk of another stroke but
a significant benefit with respect to the risk of
hemorrhagic stroke