Study: Risk of adverse events similar in younger and older adults on intensive blood pressure therapy

The risk of developing serious adverse events associated with intensive blood pressure reduction in older adults is similar in younger and older adults, researchers are reporting. The study used data from the landmark SPRINT trial (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial), a randomized clinical trial which showed that a lower blood pressure target (120 millimeters of mercury) greatly reduces cardiovascular complications and deaths in older adults. That study initially raised concern that the risks of serious falls, fainting, and low blood pressure might outweigh the benefits of intensive treatment in older adults.  But a new analysis of SPRINT data showed that, when patients in the intensive group were compared to the group on standard therapy, the risk of developing these adverse events was not higher for older persons compared to younger ones. The study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, was partly funded by NHLBI.