Effects of Intensive Systolic Blood Pressure Lowering Treatment in Reducing RIsk of Vascular evenTs (ESPRIT) Study

This trial aims to assess, in patients aged ≥50 years with an average baseline SBP ≥130 mmHg and a previous history of cardiovascular diseases or at high vascular risk, the effects on the incidence of major cardiovascular events during the scheduled treatment period of greater reduction in blood pressure with a SBP target \<120 mmHg versus \<140 mmHg.

This study is a multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial, which will randomize participants aged ≥50 years with an average baseline SBP ≥130 mmHg and a previous history of cardiovascular diseases or at high vascular risk. The study will compare the effects on the incidence of major cardiovascular events of allocation to achieve an intensive SBP goal (SBP \<120 mmHg) with a standard SBP goal (SBP \<140 mmHg) in four years of follow up.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. At least ≥50 years old, and
2. Systolic blood pressure (SBP): (having documentation of SBP to meet the criteria below on 2 consecutive visits)

   * SBP: 130-180 mmHg on 0 or 1 medication
   * SBP: 130-170 mmHg on up to 2 medications
   * SBP: 130-160 mmHg on up to 3 medications
   * SBP: 130-150 mmHg on up to 4 medications, and
3. Prior vascular disease or at high vascular risk

   1. Previous myocardial infarction (MI), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), at least a 50% diameter stenosis of a coronary, chest pain with objective evidence of myocardial ischemia (load electrocardiogram or load image examination indicated myocardial ischemia)
   2. Previous stroke
   3. Carotid endarterectomy (CE), or carotid stenting
   4. Peripheral artery disease (PAD) with revascularization
   5. Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) ≥5 cm with repair
   6. Combine with no less than two risk factors below

      * ≥60 years old male or ≥65 years old female
      * Diabetes
      * Dyslipidemia (total cholesterol \>200 mg/dL \[5.2 mmol/L\] or LDL-C \>130 mg/dL \[3.4 mmol/L\] or HDL-C \< 40 mg/dL \[1.0 mmol/L\])
      * Current smoking (smoke more than a cigarette every day in the past 12 months)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Known secondary cause of hypertension
2. An indication for a specific BP lowering medication that the participant is not taking and the participant has not been documented to be intolerant of the medication class
3. One minute standing SBP \<110 mmHg (not applicable if unable to stand)
4. Arm circumference too large or small to allow accurate blood pressure measurement with available devices
5. Proteinuria defined as urine dipstick ≥2+ protein at screening
6. Glomerulonephritis treated with or likely to be treated with immunosuppressive therapy
7. eGFR \<45 ml/min /1.73m2 or end-stage renal disease (ESRD)
8. Previous MI, stroke, or hospitalization for angina, PCI, CABG, CE or carotid stenting, PAD with revascularization, AAA≥5 cm with repair within last 3 months
9. Symptomatic heart failure within the past 6 months or documented left ventricular ejection fraction (by any method) \<35%
10. PCI or CABG planned for the next 6 months
11. A medical condition likely to limit survival to less than 3 years, or a cancer (other than non-melanoma skin cancer) diagnosed and treated within the past two years that, in the judgment of local clinical investigators, would compromise a participant's ability to comply with the protocol and complete the trial
12. Any organ transplant
13. Pregnancy, breast-feeding, or of child-bearing potential and not using adequate contraception
14. Any factors judged by local clinic investigators to be likely to limit adherence to interventions. For example,

    1. Active alcohol or substance abuse within the last 12 months
    2. Plans to move to another place to live for a long time
    3. Clinical diagnosis of dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
15. Currently participation in a clinical trial with an unlicensed drug or device
16. Living in the same household as an already randomized participant