Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • News & Views
  • Published:

Hypertension

Controversies in blood-pressure goals among the elderly

Nature Reviews Cardiology volume 14, pages 193–194 (2017)Cite this article

Subjects

The optimal blood-pressure (BP) goals for elderly patients remain inconclusive, despite the recent publication of meta-analyses comparing intensive BP control with standard BP control. In searching for therapeutic approaches in these patients, researchers should change the focus from optimal BP values to a more holistic, individual approach.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. Mancia, G. et al. 2013 ESH/ESC guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension: the Task Force for the management of arterial hypertension of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) and of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). J. Hypertens. 31, 1281–1357 (2013).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bangalore, S. et al. J-curve revisited: an analysis of blood pressure and cardiovascular events in the Treating to New Targets (TNT) Trial. Eur. Heart J. 31, 2897–2908 (2010).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Thomopoulos, C., Parati, G. & Zanchetti, A. Effects of blood-pressure-lowering treatment in hypertension: 9. Discontinuations for adverse events attributed to different classes of antihypertensive drugs: meta-analyses of randomized trials. J. Hypertens. 34, 1921–1932 (2016).

    Google Scholar 

  4. James, P. A. et al. 2014 evidence-based guideline for the management of high blood pressure in adults: report from the panel members appointed to the Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC 8). JAMA 311, 507–520 (2014).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Wright, J. T Jr, Fine, L.J., Lackland, D. T., Ogedegbe, G. & Dennison Himmelfarb, C. R. Evidence supporting a systolic blood pressure goal of less than 150 mmHg in patients aged 60 years or older: the minority view. Ann. Intern. Med. 160, 499–503 (2014).

    Google Scholar 

  6. SPRINT Research Group et al. A randomized trial of intensive versus standard blood-pressure control. N. Engl. J. Med. 373, 2103–2116 (2015).

  7. Williamson, J. D. et al. Intensive versus standard blood pressure control and cardiovascular disease outcomes in adults aged ≥75 years: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA 315, 2673–2682 (2016).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Bavishi, C., Bangalore, S. & Messerli, F. H. Outcomes of intensive blood pressure lowering in older hypertensive patients. J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 69, 486–493 (2017).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Weiss, J. et al. Benefits and harms of intensive blood pressure treatment in adults aged 60 years or older: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann. Intern. Med. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/M16-1754 (2017).

  10. Mozaffarian, D. et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics — 2016 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation 133, e38–e360 (2016).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Josep Redon is at the INCLIVA Research Institute, University of Valencia, Avenida Blasco Ibañez 17, 46010 Valencia, Spain,

    Josep Redon

  2. at CIBERObn, Institute of Health Carlos III, Calle Sinesio Delgado 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain.,

    Josep Redon

Authors
  1. Josep Redon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Josep Redon.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The author declares no competing financial interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Redon, J. Controversies in blood-pressure goals among the elderly. Nat Rev Cardiol 14, 193–194 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrcardio.2017.29

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrcardio.2017.29

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing