Hypertension treatment for the elderly cuts the risk of heart disease and stroke

New research from Britain suggests that when the elderly are treated for hypertension (high blood pressure) the medication reduces their risk of heart disease, stroke and even death.

The researchers had initially suspected that hypertension medication while it would decrease the risk of stroke in the elderly it would also increase the risk of death, but they found in fact that the opposite was true.

In a study of more than 3,800 people all over age 80 with blood pressure measurements of 160/80 or higher, half of the patients were given indapamide to reduce their blood pressure to about 150/80, and the rest were given a placebo.

The study revealed that those who were given the medication had a 64 per cent reduction in the rate of heart failure; a 30 per cent reduction in the rate of stroke; a 39 per cent reduction in the rate of death from stroke; a 21 per cent reduction in the rate of death from any cause and a 23 per cent reduction in the rate of death from cardiovascular causes.

As many as one in five people have hypertension, which is a primary risk factor for stroke and heart disease.

The research found that prescribing common drugs that lower blood pressure to people aged over 80 cuts the risk they will die after a stroke by nearly 40 per cent and reduces the rates of heart failure by over half.

The findings also demonstrate that the medication is safe to use in elderly patients.

Experts say as people age stroke, heart failure and cancer are the most common causes of death and the study results are very promising.

The research was led by Dr. Nigel S. Beckett from the Department of Care of the Elderly at Imperial College, London, along with organizations throughout Europe, China, Australasia and North Africa.

The study appears in the current online edition of The New England Journal of Medicine.