Aggressive management of cholesterol and blood pressure can reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes, a new study has found.

A research team, led by John B. Kostis, MD, the John G. Detwiler professor of cardiology, professor of medicine and chair, department of medicine, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, conducted the five-year Treating to New Targets (TNT) study that involved 10,001 patients.

The analysis of the study showed that intensive low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol-lowering in patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD) whose systolic blood pressure was less than 140 mmHg reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events by 42 percent as compared to less intensive LDL lowering and uncontrolled blood pressure of 140 mmHg or higher.

"People who have both high cholesterol and high blood pressure are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease than those with either condition alone," Dr. Kostis.

"Yet, a minority of patients with both conditions is treated to currently recommended targets. In one study less than a third of such patients were treated and only one in ten were treated to target.

"The analysis reported today reminds us that intensive management of both cholesterol and blood pressure, can significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes," he added.

Among the 10,001 patients, 9,739 who had both LDL cholesterol and systolic blood pressure measured at three months after randomisation, were included in this analysis.