Benefits and Harms of Intensive Blood Pressure Treatment in Adults Aged 60 Years or Older: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis -

Benefits and Harms of Intensive Blood Pressure Treatment in Adults Aged 60 Years or Older: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Information type: Systematic reviews
Source: Annals of Internal Medicine
Specialities: Cardiovascular system disorders
Summary
This meta-analysis of 24 studies concludes that treatment to at least current US guideline standards for BP <150/90 mmHg substantially improves health outcomes in older adults, whilst there is less consistent evidence that lower BP targets are beneficial for high-risk patients.
UKMi comment
This meta-analysis forms the basis of the American College of Physicians (ACP) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) guideline on pharmacological treatment of hypertension in adults (aged 60 years or older), which recommends clinicians initiate/intensify treatment when systolic blood pressure (SBP) is persistently ≥150mmHg to achieve a target SBP of <150mmHg, or to <140mmHg in those at high cardiovascular risk, to reduce the risk for mortality, stroke, and cardiac events.
Related links: Clinical guideline Editorial NICE guidance