Abstract TMP54: A VA Observational Study Examining the Benefit of Various Post-Ischemic Stroke/Tia Hypertension Goals in Preventing Recurrent Vascular Events

Abstract

Introduction: Joint National Committee (JNC)-8 goal blood pressure (BP) recommendation of < 140/90 mmHg has been supplanted by 2017 ACC/AHA goal of < 130/80 mmHg for patients with ischemic stroke/TIA. Understanding the potential benefit in preventing recurrent vascular events for patients reaching ACC/AHA BP goals is necessary to inform clinical care. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort of Veterans with stroke/TIA (N=39,053) who received their longitudinal outpatient primary care within a Veterans Administration Medical Center between 10/2014 and 9/2018. Patients were excluded (n=25,381) if they had missing or physiologically improbable BP values, died, or had less than 1 year of follow-up. Vascular events were defined as cerebrovascular-only, cardiovascular-only, and the composite of each. We calculated average SBP during 90 days after discharge and assessed it in categorical form (≤115 mmHg, 106-115 mmHg, 116-130, mmHg, 131-140 mmHg, and >140 mmHg) and continuous form. Multivariate COX proportional hazard regression was used to examine the relationship between average SBP groups and time to recurrent event 90 days after discharge up to 1 year. In multivariate logistic regression, we used continuous SBP along with its quadratic term to predict 1-year recurrent vascular event rates. Results: A total of 12,337 eligible patients were included in the final analysis. Compared to those with SBP > 140 mmHg, patients reaching ACC/AHA BP goal had significant lower risk of cerebrovascular recurrent events (HR=0.77, 95% CI=0.60-0.99) but not cardiovascular recurrence or both combined. Conclusions: In considering BP reached by 90-days, ACC/AHA BP guidelines showed protective effects on cerebrovascular event recurrence only.