Perspectives on prehypertension.

The Trial of Preventing Hypertension (TROPHY) investigated pharmacologic intervention in patients with prehypertension. TROPHY confirmed that treatment with candesartan 16 mg can prevent or postpone the development of hypertension, demonstrating a 66.3% reduction in hypertension incidence relative to placebo (26.8% absolute reduction) at 2 years, and a 15.6% reduction in hypertension incidence relative to placebo (9.8% absolute reduction) at 4 years. Further analyses of TROPHY may help to delineate the mechanisms behind this result more specifically, including those relating to components of the metabolic syndrome and markers of inflammation and early vascular change. The rate of progression and the concurrence of risk factors make a strong case for the development of a directive for closer follow-up and treatment. The potential for success in reducing cardiovascular events is great, given the prevalence of prehypertension and the likelihood of progression.