Blood pressure reduction in elderly patients with hypertension decreases risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes

Commentary on: Briasoulis A, Agarwal V, Tousoulis D, et al.. Effects of antihypertensive treatment in patients over 65 years of age: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled studies. Heart 2014;100:317–23. Context In individuals over 65-years old, uncontrolled hypertension has been associated with increased risk of stroke, as well as all-cause and cardiovascular death.1–3 However, optimal blood pressure (BP) targets in the elderly remain uncertain.4 Briasoulis and colleagues examine the effect of antihypertensive treatment on outcomes in individuals over the age of 65. Methods This systematic review of 18 randomised trials enrolled patients aged over 65 with hypertension. Trials were divided into two subgroups: group 1 compared antihypertensive treatment to placebo, while group 2 compared two antihypertensive treatment groups. Outcomes included all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, stroke and heart failure. A total of 59 285 controls and 55 569 patients with hypertension were...
Source: Evidence-Based Medicine - Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Tags: Geriatric medicine, Epidemiologic studies, Drugs: cardiovascular system, Stroke, Hypertension, Guidelines Therapeutics Source Type: research