Association of Total Medication Burden With Intensive and Standard Blood Pressure Control and Clinical Outcomes: A Secondary Analysis of SPRINT

Abstract

Total medication burden (antihypertensive and nonantihypertensive medications) may be associated with poor systolic blood pressure (SBP) control. We investigated the association of baseline medication burden and clinical outcomes and whether the effect of the SBP intervention varied according to baseline medication burden in SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial). Participants were randomized to intensive or standard SBP goal (below 120 or 140 mm Hg, respectively); n=3769 participants with high baseline medication burden (≥5 medications) and n=5592 with low burden (<5 medications).

Primary outcome: differences in SBP.

Secondary outcomes: 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale and modified Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications measured at baseline and 12 months and incident cardiovascular disease events and serious adverse events throughout the trial. Participants in the intensive group with high versus low medication burden were less likely to achieve their SBP goal at 12 months (risk ratio, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.85-0.97) but not in the standard group (risk ratio, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.93-1.03; Pinteraction<0.001). High medication burden was associated with increased cardiovascular disease events (hazard ratio, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.14-1.70) and serious adverse events (hazard ratio, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.24-1.45), but the effect of intensive versus standard treatment did not vary between medication burden groups (Pinteraction>0.5). Medication burden had minimal association with adherence or satisfaction. High baseline medication burden was associated with worse intensive SBP control and higher rates of cardiovascular disease events and serious adverse events. The relative benefits and risks of intensive SBP goals were similar regardless of medication burden.

Clinical trial registration- url: http://www.

Clinicaltrials: gov. Unique identifier: NCT01206062.

Keywords: blood pressure; cardiovascular diseases; hypertension; medication adherence; risk.

Figures

Figure 1:. CONSORT flow diagram

CVD=cardiovascular disease; SAE=serious adverse event; SBP=systolic blood pressure aMissing outcome or covariate data, see methods

Figure 2:. SBP and risk ratios for achieving SBP control by medication burden and treatment group

Panel A: Mean SBP Panel B: Adjusted risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals for achieving SBP goal at 12 months by quintile of medication burden

Figure 3:. Cumulative hazard plot and hazard ratios for CVD events outcome by medication burden and treatment group

Panel A: Cumulative hazards for CVD event Panel B: Adjusted risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals for experiencing CVD events by quintile of medication burden