Deliver Your News to the World

Treating high blood pressure right after stroke made no difference in recovery


WEBWIRE –

NewMediaWire via Webwire

American Heart Association Late-Breaking Clinical Trial Report LBCT 1/Abstract: 19557 (Hall E)

Study Highlights:

  • Lowering blood pressure in the very acute initial hours after a stroke made no difference in patient recovery.
  • Patients treated for high blood pressure within 48 hours of stroke were as likely to die or have a major disability within three months as those not treated.


Embargoed until 3 p.m. CT/4 p.m. ET, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2013
This release is featured in an embargoed media briefing at 10:30 a.m. CT, Sunday, Nov. 17.

DALLAS, Nov. 17, 2013 — Lowering high blood pressure in the very acute initial period after a stroke made no difference in patient recovery in a late-breaking clinical trial presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2013.

Researchers for the China Antihypertensive Trial in Acute Ischemic Stroke (CATIS) Trialstudied 4,071 people who suffered a stroke related to a clot (as opposed to one caused by bleeding) and had high blood pressure when they presented to the hospital. Half of the patients were randomly assigned to get blood pressure-lowering medication and the other half assigned to discontinue their home antihypertensive medications within 48 hours of their stroke. Both groups received standard stroke care.

Within 14 days of stroke or at hospital discharge, 33.6 percent of the patients in each group had died or experienced a major disability.

At three months, the rate was 25 percent for each group. The rate was lower after three months because fewer patients continued to have a major disability as time passed.

“We were surprised that lowering blood pressure during this most acute phase of the stroke made no difference in patient outcomes,” said Jiang He, M.D., Ph.D., the study’s lead author and professor of epidemiology and medicine at Tulane University Health Science Center in New Orleans. “Lowering blood pressure is known to prevent strokes. But in this study, we saw no difference by treating high blood pressure early after stroke.”

The rate of negative side effects was also similar with or without high blood pressure treatment.

“The data suggests that during the acute phase of ischemic stroke, treatment of hypertension should be individualized by the physician based on the patient’s clinical conditions,” said He, chair of the Department of Epidemiology in the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine.

Lowering stroke patients’ blood pressure in the long term is recommended to prevent additional strokes. But there are no guidelines on lowering blood pressure immediately for most people having a stroke, unless their blood pressure is extremely high, He said.

While the investigation took place in China, the results might apply to stroke patients in the United States and worldwide, he said.

“We need to look at the long-term impact, too, not only death and major disability, but other things such as cognitive functional impairment and quality of life,” He said.

Co-authors include Younghong Zhang, M.D., Ph.D.; Tan Xu, M.D. Ph.D.; Jing Chen, M.D.; Weijun Tong, M.D.; S. Zhang, Ph.D.; Chung-Shiung Chen, M.S. and Q. Zhao M.D., Ph.D.;Disclosures

Tulane University and Collins C. Diboll Private Foundation both of New Orleans, La.; Soochow University and Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions in China funded the study.

For more news from AHA Scientific Sessions 2013, follow @HeartNews #AHA13 on Twitter.

###

Statements and conclusions of study authors that are presented at American Heart Association scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect association policy or position. The association makes no representation or warranty as to their accuracy or reliability. The association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific association programs and events. The association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content.  Revenues from pharmaceutical and device corporations are available at www.heart.org/corporatefunding.

Note: Actual presentation is 4:13 p.m. CT/ 5:13 p.m. ET, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2013, in Hall E.

For Media Inquiries:
AHA News Media in Dallas: (214) 706-1173
AHA News Media Office, Nov. 16-20,
at the Dallas Convention Center: (214) 853-8008
For Public Inquiries: (800) AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and strokeassociation.org
 

WebWireID182880





This news content may be integrated into any legitimate news gathering and publishing effort. Linking is permitted.

News Release Distribution and Press Release Distribution Services Provided by WebWire.