Acknowledging the concerns, a SPRINT Research Group member said that the study protocol emphasised the need for very careful measurement of the ‘office’ or clinic blood pressure. “Failure to take these precautions may cause either overestimation or underestimation of blood pressure, leading to inappropriate treatment, higher rates of serious adverse effects, and unnecessary utilisation of resources, including medications and provider time and effort,” she said.¹²

“Even if blood pressure is measured correctly, achieving lower blood pressure targets using the SPRINT intensive treatment strategy will clearly require more frequent titration of medications and monitoring for adverse drug effects, greater use of drug combinations, and more frequent patient visits than is usual in real-world practice.”