Based on a study of 776 patients, there’s no evidence that different groups of people with septic shock respond differently to a high versus low mean arterial pressure (MAP) target. In other words, there wasn’t a “one-size-fits-all” group that benefited more from one target over the other.

However, the study did find that aiming for a higher MAP could be harmful in some specific situations:

• When high doses of norepinephrine are needed: If doctors have to use a lot of norepinephrine to reach the higher MAP target, it was associated with an increased risk of death.
• When mottled skin persists: Mottled skin (splotchy, discolored skin) is a sign of poor circulation. If a higher MAP target doesn’t improve this condition, it was also linked to a higher risk of death.

In summary, while the overall effect of a high MAP target wasn’t significantly different from a low one, the results suggest that doctors should be cautious when raising a patient’s blood pressure if it requires a lot of medication or doesn’t resolve signs of poor circulation.

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