Lowering Systolic Blood Pressure Below 120 mm Hg May Reduce Heart Risks

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 20:53:00 +0200

New research from Mass General Brigham indicates that aiming for a lower systolic blood pressure target, specifically below 120 mm Hg, can provide significant cardiovascular benefits, including reductions in heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure. The study used data from the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT), NHANES, and other studies to model lifetime health outcomes for different blood pressure targets. While medications used to reach these targets can cause side effects such as falls, kidney injury, low blood pressure, and slow heart rate, the analysis found that the intensive target remained cost-effective, at roughly $42,000 per quality-adjusted life-year gained. The research also accounted for common inaccuracies in blood pressure readings seen in real-world clinical settings. Lead author Karen Smith emphasized that the findings apply at a population level and that treatment intensity should be tailored to individual patients in consultation with their healt