Blood pressure control: Stroke and stroke prevention

Abstract

Hypertension is the most important modifiable risk factor for primary and secondary stroke prevention. All antihypertensive drugs are effective in primary prevention: the risk reduction for stroke is 30-42%. However, not all classes of drugs have the same effects: there is some indication that angiotensin receptor blockers may be superior to other classes of antihypertensive drugs in stroke prevention. Seventy-five percent of patients who present to hospital with acute stroke have elevated blood pressure within the first 24-48 hours. Extremes of systolic blood pressure (SBP) increase the risk of death or dependency. The aim of treatment should be to achieve and maintain the SBP in the range 140-160 mmHg. However, fast and drastic blood pressure lowering can have adverse consequences. The PROGRESS trial of secondary prevention with perindopril ± indapamide versus placebo ± placebo showed a decrease in numbers of stroke recurrences in patients given both active antihypertensive agents, more impressive for cerebral haemorrhage. There were also indications that active treatment might decrease the development of post-stroke dementia.