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The treatment of hypertension in people with dementia: a multi-centre prospective observational cohort study

Welsh, T.; Gladman, J.R.F.; Gordon, A.L.

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Authors

T. Welsh

J.R.F. Gladman

ADAM GORDON Adam.Gordon@nottingham.ac.uk
Professor of The Care of Older People



Abstract

Objectives
To describe the treatment of hypertension in people with dementia and collate evidence on adverse health events whilst on treatment.

Design
A multicenter prospective observational cohort study.

Setting and participants
People with documented diagnoses of hypertension and dementia were recruited through memory clinics and general practice from 8 sites in the United Kingdom.

Methods
The cohort was recruited between July 2013 and October 2014. Participants underwent face-to-face, standardized assessment of blood pressure (BP), activities of daily living, cognitive function, and medication use. Follow-up was by monthly telephone interview for 6 months to collate data on adverse health events.

Results
181 participants were recruited and 177 followed up; 126 (70%) were female, mean age was 82 [standard deviation (SD) 6.3] years, median Mini-Mental State Examination score was 23 [interquartile range (IQR) 18-26] and mean BP was 141/78 (SD 22/12) mmHg. Antihypertensive drugs were prescribed in 157 (87%). Participants were prescribed a median of 1 (IQR 1-2) antihypertensive medication. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and/or angiotensin receptor blockers were the most frequently prescribed antihypertensives in 63% of participants. Target BP was achieved in 58% (95% confidence interval 49%-64%). Increasing number of antihypertensives was not associated with lower systolic or diastolic BP, or with a higher proportion of patients attaining target BP. Participants had 214 falls, 3 had a fracture, 3 developed symptomatic heart failure, 4 had cerebrovascular events, and 8 died.

Conclusions/Implications
In this population of people with mild dementia, participants were treated with standard antihypertensive medications in a similar proportion to the general population, with a similar proportion achieving target BP. The rate of adverse health events was higher than in randomized controlled trials of antihypertensives and raises reservations about the assumptions underpinning antihypertensive treatment in people with dementia. These findings may help inform clinical decision making.

Citation

Welsh, T., Gladman, J., & Gordon, A. (2019). The treatment of hypertension in people with dementia: a multi-centre prospective observational cohort study. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 20(9), 1111-1115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2019.03.036

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Apr 30, 2019
Online Publication Date May 17, 2019
Publication Date Sep 1, 2019
Deposit Date May 16, 2019
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
Print ISSN 1525-8610
Electronic ISSN 1538-9375
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 20
Issue 9
Pages 1111-1115
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2019.03.036
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2057680
Publisher URL https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1525861019303317?via%3Dihub

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