Comparison of Long-Term Outcomes for Responders Versus Non-Responders Following Renal Denervation in Resistant Hypertension

Background Recent trial results support the efficacy of renal sympathetic denervation in lowering blood pressure (BP). While BP reduction in general is associated with a clinically meaningful reduction in cardiovascular events and mortality, such a relationship has not been described for patients undergoing renal sympathetic denervation. Methods and Results Clinical events were assessed in patients who underwent renal sympathetic denervation at our center using telephone- and clinical follow-up, interviews with general practitioners, as well as review of hospital databases. Event rates were compared between BP responders (≥5 mm Hg 24-hour ambulatory BP reduction) and non-responders; 296 patients were included. Compared with baseline, 24-hour systolic ambulatory BP was reduced by 8.3±12.2 mm Hg and diastolic BP by 4.8±7.0 mm Hg (