Target Blood Pressure for Treatment

The guidelines on the management of hypertension released by European and US Task Forces in 2013 and 2014 recommend target blood pressure (BP) levels below 140/90 mm Hg in most hypertensive patients, with higher values (<150/90 mm Hg) in the elderly. However, recent randomized trials as well as new metaanalyses of the available data have obtained results that are not consistent with these recommendations, rather supporting the possibility for antihypertensive treatment to pursue much lower BP goals in both middle-age and old individuals. Aim of this editorial is to review the results of these recent studies to assess whether any change of BP target during antihypertensive treatment may be proposed.