The benefits of treating high blood pressure in individuals under 75 are undeniable. However, some medical professionals have questioned if there may be fewer benefits and a higher risk of adverse drug reactions in individuals over 75. You are posing a question that we physicians have asked ourselves.
The finest study I have found on this topic was published online by The Lancet on August 26, 2021. It shows that blood pressure treatment is still beneficial for those over 75. Researchers combined data from 51 randomized clinical trials with 358,707 participants, ages 21 to 105. Almost 59,000 individuals were 75 years of age or older. The results are more likely to be reliable when there are so many participants in the analysis.
The best kind of research for evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of a treatment is a randomized trial. Some participants in these trials are randomly assigned to take a real blood pressure medication, while others are given a placebo, or inactive medication. Any discrepancies in their subsequent health are likely to be explained by whether they took the actual medication or the placebo because the individuals in the two groups are quite similar other from the type of pill they are taking. We can therefore trust the analysis’s findings due to the vast number of participants and the fact that they were all in randomized trials.
The primary focus of the study was cardiovascular disorders, including heart attacks, strokes, and other heart issues brought on by blocked arteries. The study found that blood pressure medication users had 10% to 20% less cardiovascular disease issues for those under 75. There was still a 10% decrease for those aged 75 to 84. Although the results were conflicting for those over 85, blood pressure therapy still seemed to be beneficial.
Although adverse effects from treatment were not particularly examined in this analysis, other big trials have. In summary, those over 75 do not experience more adverse effects from blood pressure medications than younger individuals. Rarely, if a patient’s blood pressure drops below 130/85 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) during treatment, they may experience unpleasant symptoms and need to take less medication.
Therefore, this research shows that lowering blood pressure protects against heart attacks, strokes, and other serious cardiovascular disease issues in the average person under the age of 75, the person between the ages of 75 and 84, and perhaps the person beyond 85. A blood pressure of about 120/70 mm Hg is the target of treatment. Fortunately, there are numerous efficient medications available today to treat high blood pressure.