"NIHsupported researchers are reporting additional details about a widelypublicized study that linked a systolic blood pressure target under  mm Hg millimeters of mercury with reduced cardiovascular disease and a lower risk of death. The new analysis singles out adults aged  and older and confirms that those with high blood pressure also benefit from the lower pressure target similar to the larger group studied in the earlier research nondiabetic adults aged  and older. These additional results of the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial SPRINT appear in the current online issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association JAMA.  The study shows that for adults aged  years and older with high blood pressure a systolic blood pressure goal of less than  mm Hg reduced rates of cardiovascular events such as heart attack and heart failure as well as stroke by  percent. This lower blood pressure goal also reduced the risk of death among this group by  percent compared to a target systolic pressure of  mm Hg. The benefits of a more aggressive blood pressure intervention occurred in both frail individuals with several impairments or disorders and nonfrail older participants the researchers note.  About threefourths of the U.S. population aged  and older live with hypertension a leading contributor to cardiovascular disease and death. Although the standard blood pressure treatment goal is  mm Hg various medical panels have provided inconsistent guidance about what is the optimal blood pressure goal for the senior population. One group has recommended a target blood pressure of  mm Hg for persons aged  or older while another recommended a target of  mm Hg for adults aged  or older. Other experts have supported keeping the standard treatment goal at  mm Hg.  To address this issue the SPRINT study tapped more than  volunteers aged  and older assigning half to a target blood pressure of less than  mm Hg and half to target of less than  mm Hg. While study participants with the lower blood pressure goal appeared to have better cardiovascular outcomes overall the researchers caution all other hypertension patients to talk to their doctor to determine whether this lower goal is best for their individual care.  In addition to primary sponsorship by the NHLBI SPRINT is cosponsored by the NIHs National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the National Institute on Aging.  WHO Lawrence Fine M.D. chief of the Clinical Applications and Prevention Branch at NHLBI and a coauthor of the study is available to comment on the findings and implications of this research.  CONTACT For more information or to schedule an interview please contact the NHLBI Office of Science Policy Engagement Education and Communications at  or nhlbi_newsnhlbi.nih.gov mailtonhlbi_newsnhlbi.nih.gov link sends email. About the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute NHLBI NHLBI a part of the National Institutes of Health NIH plans conducts and supports research related to the causes prevention diagnosis and treatment of heart blood vessel lung and blood diseases and sleep disorders. The Institute also administers national health education campaigns on women and heart disease healthy weight for children and other topics. NHLBI press releases and other materials are available online at http About the National Institutes of Health NIH NIH the nations medical research agency includes  Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic clinical and translational medical research and is investigating the causes treatments and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs visit http NIH...Turning Discovery Into Health"