OBJECTIVES

: The 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) High Blood Pressure Guidelines lowered high blood pressure threshold for recommending earlier intervention to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study estimated the impact of initiating timely anti-hypertensive medications on the risk of clinical events (AMI, stroke and death) and on healthcare costs in patients potentially qualifying for anti-hypertensive treatment under the 2017 guidelines.

METHODS

: High-risk patients qualifying for anti-hypertensive medications under the 2017 guidelines were identified using Optum data [2007-2016]. Patients with a diagnosis of elevated blood pressure were assumed eligible for hypertension treatment under new guidelines. Patients were further designated into two treatment groups depending on whether patients initiated treatment before experiencing a cardiovascular event or not. Comorbidities including diabetes, chronic kidney disease and obesity as known risk factors of CVD were specially interpreted in the analysis. The impact of timely anti-hypertensive medications on CVD risk and on healthcare costs were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models and generalized linear models [GLM], respectively.

RESULTS

: CONCLUSIONS

: Initiating timely anti-hypertensive medications was associated with reduced risk of AMI, stroke and death for all hypertensive patients identified in new guidelines. Patients with elevated blood pressure, the primary source of any expanded eligible population under new guidelines, experienced lower risk of stroke once treated.