• Greg Arling, Anthony Perkins, Laura J Myers, Jason J Sico, and Dawn M Bravata.
• Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Precision Monitoring to Transform Care (PRISM) Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI), Washington, DC; School of Nursing, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indianapolis, IN. Electronic address: garling@purdue.edu.
• Am. J. Med. 2022 Jul 1; 135 (7): 889896.e1889-896.e1.

BackgroundBlood pressure control has been shown to reduce risk of vascular events and mortality after an ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). Yet, questions remain about effectiveness, timing, and targeted blood pressure reduction.MethodsWe analyzed data from a retrospective cohort of 18,837 veterans cared for 12 months prior and up to 12 months after an emergency department visit or inpatient admission for stroke or TIA. Latent class growth analysis was used to classify patients into systolic blood pressure trajectories. With Cox proportional hazard models, we examined relationships between blood pressure trajectories, intensification of antihypertensive medication, and stroke (fatal or non-fatal) and all-cause mortality in 12 months following the index event.ResultsThe cohort was classified into 4 systolic blood pressure trajectories: 19% with a low systolic blood pressure trajectory (mean systolic blood pressure = 116 mm Hg); 65% with a medium systolic blood pressure trajectory (mean systolic blood pressure = 136 mm Hg); 15% with a high systolic blood pressure trajectory (mean systolic blood pressure = 158 mm Hg), and 1% with a very high trajectory (mean systolic blood pressure = 183 mm Hg). After the stroke or TIA, individuals in the high and very high systolic blood pressure trajectories experienced a substantial decrease in systolic blood pressure that coincided with intensification of antihypertensive medication. Patients with very low and very high systolic blood pressure trajectories had a significantly greater (P < .05) hazard of mortality, while medication intensification was related significantly (P < .05) to lower hazard of mortality.ConclusionsThese findings point to the importance of monitoring blood pressure over multiple time points and of instituting enhanced hypertension management after stroke or TIA, particularly for individuals with high or very high blood pressure trajectories.Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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