1. Study properties.
| Study | Number of participants | BP Entry Criteria (mmHg) | Baseline BP | Comparison | Study Duration |
| Placebo‐controlled RCTs | |||||
| HYVET 2008 |
n=3336, n=1687 Rx group; n=1649 placebo n=1469 completed 2 yr MMSE |
SBP 160‐200, DBP < 110 | Mean SBP 173.1 Rx group; 172.9 placebo | stepped (diuretic then ACE inhibitor) vs placebo | 5 years, 2 year results reported for HYVET‐COG |
| Perez Stable 2000 |
n=312, n=156 each Rx and placebo groups dementia incidence reported for n=102 and n=101 respectively |
DBP 90‐104 | Mean BP 140/96 Rx group; 141/96 placebo | placebo vs BB also lifestyle intervention factorial design (not included here) | 12 months |
| SCOPE 2003 | n=4937, n=2477 Rx group; n=2460 placebo | BP 160‐179/90‐99 | Mean BP 166.0/90.3 Rx group; 166.5/90.4 placebo | stepped (ARB then diuretic) vs placebo | 44.6 months |
| SHEP 1991 | n=4736, n=2365 Rx group; n=2371 placebo | SBP > 160, DBP < 90 | Mean BP 170.5/76.7 Rx group; 170.1/76.4 placebo | stepped (diuretic then BB then centrally acting agent) vs placebo | Mean follow‐up 4.5 years |
| Syst Eur 1998 | n=2418, n=1238 Rx group; n=1180 placebo | SBP 160‐219, DBP < 95 | Mean BP 173.4/86.0 Rx group; 173.5/86.1 placebo | stepped (CCB then ACE inhibitor then diuretic) vs placebo | Median follow‐up 2.0 years |
| LOMIR MCT IL 1996 | n=368 (n=124; n=120; n=124) | DBP 95‐105 | Mean BP 154.5/99.7; 152.0/99.3; 150.7/99.8 | stepped, isradipine vs methyldopa vs placebo, dose doubled then ACE inhibitor added | 12 months |
| MRC 1996 | n=2651 with n=2567 and n=2584 completing PALT and TMT assessments, n=633 diuretic n=640 BB n=1311 placebo | SBP 160‐209, DBP < 115 | Mean BP diuretic 184.9/90.3; BB 184.2/90.7; placebo 183.5/90.5 | stepped, BB vs diuretic vs placebo, then BB dose doubled, other study drug added then CCB added; additional drugs permitted | 54 months |
| Zhang 2018 | n=732 (n=366 both groups) | SBP ≥140 and/or DBP ≥ 90 or self‐reported use of BP lowering meds in previous 2 weeks | Mean 156.1/71.3 ARB; 156.5/71.2 placebo | telmisartan vs placebo but all participants also Rx hydrochlorothiazide | Mean follow‐up 59.8 months |
| Intensive versus standard BP reduction | |||||
| ACCORD MIND 2014 | n=1439, n=745 intensive group, n=694 standard group | SBP ≥ 130 on ≥ 2 occasions on no meds, SBP 130‐160 on 0‐3 meds, 161‐170 on 0‐2 meds, 171‐180 on 0‐1 meds | Mean 138.8/76.0 intensive group; 139.2/76.3 standard | < 120 vs < 140 mmHg | 40 months |
| SPRINT MIND 2019 | n=9,361, n=4678 intensive group, n=4683 standard group | SBP 130 ‐ 180 on ≥ 2 occasions | Mean 139.7/78.2 intensive group; 139.7/78.0 standard | < 120 vs < 140 mmHg | Median intervention period 3.34 years |
| Other included studies | |||||
| AVEC 2012 | n=47 (n=17; n=17; n=13) | > 140/90 or on antihypertensives | Mean 153/85 ACE inhibitor; 149/81 ARB; 155/83 diuretic | stepped, ARB vs diuretic vs ACE inhibitor, dose increased then CCB added then BB added | 12 months |
| CAMUI 2013 | n=142 (n=74 and n=68) | > 140/90 or > 130/80 if diabetic or renal disease and already on an ARB | Mean 156/83 ARB+C; 155/83 ARB+D | stepped, ARB + CCB vs ARB + diuretic, further ARB added then alpha blocker then BB then antisympathetic agent added | 12 months |
RCTs: randomised controlled trials; MMSE: mini mental state examination; SBP: systolic blood pressure; DBP: diastolic blood pressure; Rx: hypertensive treatment group; ACE inhibitor: angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor; BB: beta‐blocker; ARB: angiotensin receptor blocker; CCB: calcium channel blocker; PALT: paired associate learning test; TMT: trail making test.