Abstract 17590: Association of Intensive vs Standard Blood Pressure Lowering With 1-year and 2-year Changes in Cardiac Biomarker Levels: Findings From SPRINT

Abstract

Background: The Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) demonstrated that intensive systolic blood pressure (SBP) lowering was associated with marked reductions in cardiovascular disease (CVD) endpoints. We recently reported that intensive SBP lowering was also associated with a small increase in high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) and a large decrease in N-terminal pro-B-type natiuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) over 1-year. However, data on longer term biomarker changes with intensive versus standard SBP lowering have not been previously reported. Methods: hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP were measured at baseline, 1 year, and 2 years from stored specimens in SPRINT participants. Changes in biomarkers were evaluated continuously on the log scale with interval censoring of participants with CVD events. The effect of intensive SBP lowering on biomarker changes was assessed using linear regression models with treatment effects reported as geometric mean ratios. Results: Of 9,361 SPRINT participants, hs-cTnT and NT-proBNP were measured in 8,828 (baseline), 7,887 (Year 1), and 7,463 (Year 2) free of CVD events. Intensive SBP lowering led to a 3% increase in log-transformed hs-cTnT from baseline to Year 1, but there was no significant change observed from baseline to Year 2. In contrast, intensive SBP lowering led to a consistent 10% decrease in NT-proBNP from baseline to Year 1 and to Year 2. NT-proBNP levels increased slightly from Year 1 to Year 2 in both treatment arms such that the 1-Year treatment effect for intensive SBP lowering was maintained to Year 2 (see Table). Conclusions: Intensive SBP lowering was associated with a transient, modest increase in hscTnT at Year 1 that was no longer present at Year 2. In contrast, intensive SBP lowering was associated with a persistent reduction in NT-proBNP at both 1 and 2 years follow-up. These findings highlight the complex responses of cardiac biomarkers to intensive SBP lowering.