What were the results of the ACCORD blood pressure trial?
There was no significant difference in the primary study outcome between the intensive and standard blood pressure treatment groups. The primary outcome was the time to first occurrence after randomization of a heart attack, a stroke, or a cardiovascular death. Thus, the primary hypothesis of the ACCORD BP trial was not supported. There was, however, a significant reduction in the rate of strokes, although the numbers were relatively small. This reduction in stroke was consistent with previous blood pressure lowering trials. Overall, however, the findings from the ACCORD blood pressure trial suggest that, on average, the standard treatment for blood pressure lowering treatment was just as good as the intensive lowering treatment for cardiovascular outcomes.
