Higher antihypertensive dose increases risk of falls in older people

Commentary on: Callisaya ML, Sharman JE, Close J, et al. Greater daily defined dose of antihypertensive medication increases the risk of falls in older people—a population-based study. J Am Geriatr Soc 2014;62:1527–33. Implications for practice and research Clinicians should be aware of the increased risk of falls with high-dose antihypertensives. More clinical trials are needed to understand appropriate dose selection of antihypertensives in older patients. Context The recent Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC-8) guidelines have relaxed the systolic blood pressure goal for adults over 60 years to <150 mm Hg.1 These guidelines were changed because of the lack of evidence that stricter control conferred more benefits than harms.2 Research by Callisaya et al explores if higher quantification of antihypertensive medications is associated with falls in older adults, an area where mixed results are seen in the literature. Methods The study...
Source: Evidence-Based Nursing - Category: Nursing Authors: Tags: Long term care, Drugs: cardiovascular system, Stroke, Hypertension, Ischaemic heart disease Care of older people Source Type: research