Abstract

GOMES, Vânia  and  DOMINGUES, Sara. Intensive blood pressure control in type 2 diabetes mellitus: what is the evidence?. Rev Port Med Geral Fam [online]. 2018, vol.34, n.4, pp.208-218. ISSN 2182-5173.

Aim: To verify if intensive antihypertensive treatment (systolic blood pressure <130mmHg) has beneficial effects on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension, compared with standard antihypertensive treatment (systolic blood pressure <140mmHg). Data sources: National Guideline Clearinghouse, NHS Evidence, CMA InfoBase, Cochrane, DARE, MEDLINE/PubMed. Review methods: Meta-analyses (MA), systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials (RCT) and guidelines in English and Portuguese, published between 2006 and 2016 were searched, using the MeSH terms ‘antihypertensive agents', ‘diabetes mellitus', and ‘blood pressure'. The Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy (SORT) scale from the American Family Physician was used to evaluate the levels of evidence (LE) and the strength of recommendation (SR). Results: A total of 662 articles were obtained, amongst which 12 fulfilled the inclusion criteria: three MA, one RCT and eight guidelines. MA showed that intensive blood pressure (BP) control reduces the risk of stroke, microalbuminuria and nephropa-thy in diabetic patients (LE 2). However, intensive BP control was associated with an increased risk of adverse effects in these patients, and seems to increase cardiovascular mortality (LE 2). The RCT has only shown a reduction on the risk of development of microalbuminuria (LE 2). Finally, most guidelines do not recommend intensive BP control in diabetic patients and advise that the BP control should be more intensive only in young diabetic patients, in those with target organ damage, or those with more than one risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Conclusions: According to the evidence available, intensive BP control in patients with type 2 diabetes should not be recommended, except in young diabetic patients and in certain risk groups (SR B). Nevertheless, this study reinforces the importance of BP control in these patients, and highlights the key role of the family physician in the individualized assessment of the risks and benefits of intensive BP treatment.

Keywords : Hypertension; Diabetes mellitus, Type 2; Antihypertensive agents.

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