Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and observational follow-up reports of RCTs that compared blood pressure targets in adults with non dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease were eligible. Studies had to report at least one of the outcomes of mortality, kidney failure, clinical cardiovascular events, categorical change in kidney function, rate of change in glomerular filtration rate, number of antihypertensive agents needed to achieve blood pressure targets and adverse events. Studies with fewer than 50 participants per group or less than one year of follow-up were excluded.
Included studies compared low blood pressure targets (mean arterial pressure <92mmHg or <130/80mmHg) with usual blood pressure targets (mean arterial pressure ≤107mmHg or diastolic blood pressure <90mmHg). Participants had stage 3-4 chronic kidney disease. Cause of chronic kidney disease varied between trials. None of the trials recruited patients with diabetes. Details of antihypertensive regimens and proteinuria subgroups varied.
All authors were involved in selecting studies for the review.