Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 22, 2025
08:35
Improved Renal Denervation Mitigated Hypertension Induced by Angiotensin II Infusion
Published on: May 26, 2022
3.4K
Mortality in Elderly Patients Taking Furosemide: Prospective Cohorts Study
Alejandro Rodríguez-Molinero1, Antonio Miñarro2, Leire Narvaiza3
1Consorci Sanitari De L'Alt Penedès I Garraf, Sant Pere De Ribes, Barcelona, Spain.
International Journal of Hypertension
|November 8, 2022
Summary
Low blood pressure medications, particularly furosemide, may increase mortality risk in elderly patients. This finding suggests a need for careful consideration of these drugs as potential confounders in future studies.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Clinical Pharmacology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Low blood pressure (BP) is a debated risk factor for mortality in the elderly.
- The influence of BP-lowering medications on this association is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between BP-lowering drugs and mortality risk in elderly patients.
- To determine if specific BP medications independently predict mortality, accounting for other risk factors.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of 772 community-dwelling Spanish individuals aged over 65.
- Data collected included BP, medications, and risk factors; participants were followed for a median of 5 years.
- Mortality was ascertained, and Cox regression models were used for analysis.
Main Results:
- 226 deaths occurred during follow-up.
- Diuretics and nitrites were associated with increased mortality.
- Furosemide, a diuretic, was independently associated with a 2.34-fold increased mortality risk in multivariable models.
Conclusions:
- Furosemide is prospectively associated with increased mortality in older adults.
- Prescribers should consider furosemide as a potential confounder in BP and mortality studies.
Related Concept Videos
01:11Renal Failure: Dose Adjustments
140
In patients with renal impairment, drugs undergo significant changes in their pharmacokinetics, which require dosage adjustments to ensure safe and effective therapy.
Reduced renal clearance and elimination rate are common outcomes of renal impairment. These alterations lead to a prolonged elimination half-life and an altered apparent volume of distribution for drugs. As a result, dosage adjustments are typically necessary to maintain optimal drug levels in the body.
However, dosage adjustments...
Reduced renal clearance and elimination rate are common outcomes of renal impairment. These alterations lead to a prolonged elimination half-life and an altered apparent volume of distribution for drugs. As a result, dosage adjustments are typically necessary to maintain optimal drug levels in the body.
However, dosage adjustments...
140
01:30Heart Failure V: Medical Management
19
Medical Management of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (ADHF)The primary goals of therapy for patients hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) include:Relieving symptomsOptimizing volume statusSupporting oxygenation and ventilationMaintaining cardiac output (CO) and end-organ perfusionIdentifying and addressing the cause of ADHFPreventing complicationsProviding patient education on factors precipitating HF exacerbationPlanning for dischargeOngoing monitoring and assessment...
19
01:15Renal Drug Excretion: Overview
236
As primary excretory organs, the kidneys maintain homeostasis by removing waste substances from the bloodstream. They comprise over a million units called nephrons, which serve as the kidney's functional units.
A nephron consists of two primary structures: the renal corpuscle and the renal tubule. The renal corpuscle contains the glomerulus, a network of capillaries where the first step of renal excretion, glomerular filtration, occurs. Blood pressure forces water, ions, and small molecules...
A nephron consists of two primary structures: the renal corpuscle and the renal tubule. The renal corpuscle contains the glomerulus, a network of capillaries where the first step of renal excretion, glomerular filtration, occurs. Blood pressure forces water, ions, and small molecules...
236
01:22Heart Failure Drugs: Diuretics
454
Heart failure and kidney perfusion are interconnected in a complex way. Reduced renal perfusion and venous congestion are two significant factors that contribute to renal dysfunction in heart failure. The kidneys, primarily responsible for fluid balance in the body, are adversely affected due to compromised cardiac output and increased venous pressure. In response to reduced renal perfusion, the kidneys activate neurohumoral mechanisms to restore balance. However, these mechanisms can be...
454
01:22Acute Kidney Injury VI: Nursing Management
46
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) results in an inability to maintain fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance. Effective nursing management is critical in improving patient outcomes and includes comprehensive patient assessment and targeted interventions.Comprehensive Patient AssessmentA detailed history collection is essential, focusing on any recent infections, nephrotoxic medication use, or chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes that may contribute to AKI. During the physical...
46
01:22Heart Failure VI: Adjunct Therapies
25
Additional therapies for treating patients with heart failure (HF) may include procedural interventions, supplemental oxygen, the management of sleep disorders, and nutritional therapy.Procedural InterventionsImplantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator: For patients at risk of life-threatening arrhythmias due to severe left ventricular dysfunction, an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) can detect and terminate these arrhythmias, preventing sudden cardiac death and improving survival rates.
25