Possibilities for antihypertensive drug therapy withdrawal in the elderly

The aims of this study were to determine: (1) the proportion of elderly hypertensive subjects currently attending a hospital hypertension clinic suitable for a trial of antihypertensive drug withdrawal, (2) the proportion of suitable patients who can be successfully withdrawn from drug therapy while receiving nonpharmacological advice, and (3) the factors associated with successful withdrawal. One hundred and five consecutive hypertensive subjects, 53% female, mean age 76 years (range 65-84 years) on pharmacological antihypertensive therapy for > 1 year were studied, of whom 78 (74%) had a clinic SBP < 175 mmHg and DBP < 100 mmHg. Subjects with recent myocardial infarction or stroke or with symptoms of ischaemic heart disease were excluded. Antihypertensive drug therapy was withdrawn in this group and nonpharmacological advice to lower BP was instituted. Clinic BP and weight were subsequently recorded monthly for 12 months in all subjects and at every three months in those who had a possible follow-up period of 24 months. The 24h ambulatory BP was measured at baseline and repeated one month off therapy; 24h urine electrolytes were also assessed at baseline and at 12 months or before restarting drug therapy. Seventy-four (70%) subjects had a potential follow-up of 12 months (four were withdrawn from the study) and 64 were available for two years of follow-up. Antihypertensive treatment was restarted if SBP > or = 160 mmHg and/or DBP > or = 90 mmHg on two consecutive visits. After 12 months, 20 (25%) of those withdrawn remained normotensive, the majority restarting therapy did so in the first three months.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)