Abstract
Hypertension is a global health burden. However, clinical reference for the adequate management of blood pressure (BP) to prevent renal injury has yet to be established. Thus, this study aimed to investigate whether optimal control and maintenance of BP at < 140/90, < 130/80, or < 120/70 mmHg could prevent hypertensive nephropathy in nondiabetic hypertensive patients. A single-center observational study of 351 nondiabetic hypertensive patients was conducted in Taiwan. The average age of the participants was 64.0 years, and approximately 57.8% of the participants were men. Kidney function was assessed using estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The baseline eGFR was 83.8 ± 19.8 mL/min/1.73 m(2) . All patients were followed up every 3 months and underwent office BP measurement and blood sampling. Renal events were defined as> 25% and> 50% decline in eGFR. During an average follow-up period of 4.2 ± 2.3 years, a> 25% and> 50% decline in eGFR was noted in 49 and 11 patients, respectively. The Cox regression analysis revealed that a baseline BP ≥ 140/90 mmHg (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.965; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.099-3.514, P = 0.023) and ≥ 130/80 mmHg (HR: 2.799; 95% CI: 1.286-6.004, P = 0.009) increased the risk of> 25% decline in eGFR. Moreover, a baseline BP ≥ 140/90 mmHg (HR: 8.120; 95% CI: 1.650-39.956, P = 0.010) and follow-up BP ≥ 140/90 mmHg (HR: 6.402; 95% CI: 1.338-30.637, P = 0.020) increased the risk of> 50% decline in eGFR. In conclusion, a stringent baseline BP < 130/80 mmHg and a follow-up BP < 140/90 mmHg can be considered optimal cutoff values for clinical practice to prevent hypertensive nephropathy.