The narrower the gradient, the more likely a weak recommendation is warranted. Quality of evidence The higher the quality of evidence, the more likely a strong recommendation is warranted. However, there are exceptions for which low or very low quality of the evidence will warrant a strong recommendation. Values and preferences The more variability in values and preferences, or the more uncertainty in values and preferences, the more likely a weak recommendation is warranted. Values and preferences were obtained from the literature, where possible, or were assessed by the judgment of the Work Group when robust evidence was not identi ed. Resources and other considerations The higher the costs of an intervention that is, the more resources consumed the less likely a strong recommendation is warranted. www.kidney-international.org methods for guideline development Patient preferences and values. No patients or caregivers were involved in the Work Group. The Work Group, from their experi- ence in managing BP in patients with CKD and their understanding of the best available scienti c literature, made judgments on the preferences and values of patients. Formal qualitative evidence syn- thesis on patient priorities and preferences was not undertaken. Resources and other considerations. Healthcare and non- healthcare resources, including all inputs in the treatment were considered in grading the strength of a recommendation. The following resources were considered: direct healthcare costs, non-healthcare resources (e.g., transportation and social services), informal caregiver resources (e.g., time of family and caregivers), and changes in productivity. Economic evaluations, including cost-effectiveness analysis, were not conducted for any of the guideline topics. However, the ERT conducted searches for systematic reviews of cost-effectiveness studies in support of selected topics, such as BP measurement techniques. 