Response to Letter by Mysak et al

Abstract

Response: We appreciate the thoughtful comments from Drs Mysak and Tulloch. We agree that the definition of hypertension used in the PROGRESS trial was a systolic blood pressure ≥160 mm Hg or a diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mm Hg.1 Those with blood pressures below this threshold were classified as nonhypertensive based on older definitions. As correctly pointed out by Drs Mysak and Tulloch, the mean blood pressure in this “non-hypertensive” group of 136/79 mm Hg is in the “pre-hypertension” range (120 to 139 mm Hg systolic or 80 to 89 mm Hg diastolic) as defined by JNC-VII.2 Although …