According to JNC 8 guidelines, what is the blood pressure goal for patients with diabetes mellitus or chronic kidney disease?

According to JNC 8 guidelines, what is the blood pressure goal for patients with diabetes mellitus or chronic kidney disease?

• A. <150/90
• B. <140/90
• C. <130/80
• D. <120/80

Answer: (B)

The key idea is how JNC 8 sets blood pressure targets based on age and comorbidity. For adults with diabetes mellitus or chronic kidney disease, the recommended treatment goal is to reduce blood pressure to less than 140 systolic and less than 90 diastolic (less than 140/90 mm Hg). This target reflects the balance between cardiovascular/renal risk reduction and the practicality/safety of therapy in these high‑risk groups at the time the guideline was published. Why this is the best choice: it matches the JNC 8 recommendation for diabetics or CKD, aiming for a moderate, achievable goal that reduces risk without the added potential harms of pursuing much lower targets. Why the other options don’t fit JNC 8: a goal of <150/90 is not the diabetic/CKD target in JNC 8; it aligns more with older general targets for some populations. Goals like <130/80 or <120/80 are more aggressive targets adopted by later guidelines and are not what JNC 8 specified for patients with diabetes or CKD.

The key idea is how JNC 8 sets blood pressure targets based on age and comorbidity. For adults with diabetes mellitus or chronic kidney disease, the recommended treatment goal is to reduce blood pressure to less than 140 systolic and less than 90 diastolic (less than 140/90 mm Hg). This target reflects the balance between cardiovascular/renal risk reduction and the practicality/safety of therapy in these high‑risk groups at the time the guideline was published.

Why this is the best choice: it matches the JNC 8 recommendation for diabetics or CKD, aiming for a moderate, achievable goal that reduces risk without the added potential harms of pursuing much lower targets.

Why the other options don’t fit JNC 8: a goal of <150/90 is not the diabetic/CKD target in JNC 8; it aligns more with older general targets for some populations. Goals like <130/80 or <120/80 are more aggressive targets adopted by later guidelines and are not what JNC 8 specified for patients with diabetes or CKD.