Study Sets Blood Pressure Target for People Over 80

A study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society investigated American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association blood pressure recommendations for U.S. seniors, reports Medical News Today . The recommendations for people older than 65 include a systolic blood pressure of no higher than 130 milligrams of mercury (mmHg). The researchers looked at information from 1,167 participants, including individuals who had had strokes, heart attacks, changes in kidney function, cognitive impairment, lessened quality of life, or who had died. About 27 percent had a history of heart disease, and most had three or more chronic health conditions. The participants' average age was 84, with about 3 percent older than 90 and more than 50 percent on five or more medications. Their average baseline systolic blood pressure was about 142 mmHg, with subjects randomly divided into two groups — one of which was helped in getting their systolic readings below 140 mmHg. The cohort that had achieved systolic levels of 120 mmHg or less experienced a lowered risk of heart disease events, and a lower probability of mild cognitive impairment. Development of dementia was nearly identical in both cohorts.