A lower blood pressure is generally considered to be unproblematic. A large study from England now comes to the conclusion that the mortality rate for persons aged 75 years or older with a blood pressure under 130/80 mmHg higher than persons with somewhat higher values. This was particularly true in frail persons.

An upper (systolic) blood was associated pressure value of less than 130 mmHg and a lower (diastolic) value of less than 80 mmHg in the 10-year observation period, in the case of old people with a higher mortality. In the frail participants, the mortality rate was even increased to 62 percent.

Conversely: people over 85, and people aged 75 with moderate-to-severe frailty with elevated systolic blood pressure between 150 and 159 mmHg had, contrary to expectations, no higher, but a lower mortality rate.

Not everyone benefits from low target values

The study by the University of Exeter, for the electronic patient records of 415.980 persons aged 75 years or older were analyzed, it was carried out, because some countries had changed the criteria for the treatment of hypertension. Thus, Doctors should be encouraged to reduce the blood pressure of their patients systematically, in order to protect you from serious cardiovascular diseases. In establishing the criteria, the impact on the frail and very old adults, however, were not taken into account.

The Geriaterin Jane Masoli, who, according to the study in the context of her dissertation at the University of Exeter said: "Internationally, the guidelines move in the direction of more stringent blood pressure goals, but our results show that this may not be appropriate. We need more research to determine whether aggressive blood pressure control in older adults is safe and for which patient groups it is of Use to you." She warned but before that, the taking of the medication, cancel, unless the doctor advises.

ZOU