Uncontrolled High Blood Pressure Linked to Increased Disability in Older Adults

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Uncontrolled High Blood Pressure Linked to Increased Disability in

Older Adults

http://www.vitasearch.com/CP/weeklyupdates/

Reference: " Association between concurrent and remote blood pressure

and disability in older adults, " Hajjar I, Lackland DT, et al,

Hypertension, 2007; 50(6): 1026-32. (Address: Harvard Medical School,

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, MA

29206, USA. E-mail: ihabhajjar@... ).

Summary: In a study involving 999 stroke-free older adults (mean age:

68.5 years, 57% women, 39% African-American), uncontrolled hypertension

was found to be associated with an increased risk of disability, during

the period of 1960 to 1993. Functional ability of subjects was assessed

using a disability scale and an activities of daily living scale, which

measured physical strength, mobility, and personal hygiene ability.

Blood pressure readings were collected as well. Results found that an

increase in systolic blood pressure over time was associated with a

decline in functional ability. Furthermore, hypertension itself (defined

as blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg or greater, or being on

antihypertensive medications) was associated with an increased risk of

developing new disability (hazard ratio: 1.28). The group of subjects

with the greatest risk of disability were the subjects with uncontrolled

hypertension (defined as blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg while receiving

anti-hyperten sive medications). These results suggest that in

stroke-free older adults, hypertension, and more significantly,

uncontrolled hypertension, may increase the risk of disability.

--

ne Holden, MS, RD < fivestar@... >

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