Largest study to date across the full CKD spectrum
The study, published in The Lancet, analysed data from 285,124 participants across 46 randomised controlled trials, including more than 59,000 people with CKD making it the largest randomised evidence base to date examining cardiovascular outcomes in people with CKD.
People with CKD are at particularly high risk of cardiovascular disease but have historically been underrepresented in clinical trials, leaving uncertainty about the benefits of blood pressure treatment in this group.
Consistent benefits across all stages of kidney disease
Researchers found that a 5 mm Hg reduction in systolic blood pressure was associated with a roughly 10% reduction in the relative risk of major cardiovascular events, including stroke, heart attack, and heart failure.
Importantly, this benefit was consistent:
- Across all stages of CKD, including patients with severely reduced kidney function (stages 4–5), a group historically underrepresented in trials
- Across different baseline blood pressure levels
- Regardless of the presence of proteinuria
Read the full story on the Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health website.