Impact of Blood Pressure Control on Heart Health Varies by Education Level

Recent research from the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences and the University of Texas at Tyler highlights how the benefits of intensive blood pressure management on cardiovascular health differ across education levels. The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, analyzed data from the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT), a large-scale, multicenter randomized controlled trial initiated in 2010. SPRINT investigated the effects of aggressive blood pressure lowering—targeting a systolic pressure of 120 mm Hg versus the standard 140 mm Hg—finding that the intensive approach reduced cardiovascular events by 25% and mortality by 27%, shaping new clinical guidelines in 2017.

In this analysis, over 9,000 hypertensive adults aged 50 and above were categorized by their educational attainment: no college, some college or college degree, and beyond college. While all groups achieved similar blood pressure control, only participants with the highest education level experienced significant reductions in cardiovascular risk through intensive blood pressure management. Those with less educational attainment did not see comparable benefits, despite comparable blood pressure improvements.

Dr. Jared W. Magnani, a cardiologist at UPMC and associate professor at Pitt, explained, "Our findings suggest that achieving blood pressure targets alone may not be sufficient for improving heart health among all social groups. The benefits appear to be influenced by social and structural factors beyond pharmacologic management." This underscores the importance of considering social determinants of health when developing cardiovascular disease prevention strategies.

The study points to the need for further exploration into social factors that impact cardiovascular health outcomes, aiming to tailor more effective interventions that transcend medication adherence and address broader social vulnerabilities.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-effects-blood-pressure-cardiovascular-health.html