A low blood pressure of 130/80 mmHg or less increases the risk of mortality in seniors, according to a study analyzing health data from 415,980 individuals. The study also found that low blood pressure has a stronger impact on mortality risk than high blood pressure. While high blood pressure is known to damage the heart, blood vessels, and other organs, recent studies have suggested that low blood pressure can also negatively affect long-term health. Researchers at the University of Exeter analyzed health data from seniors over a ten-year period to investigate the relationship between low blood pressure, mortality risk, and cardiovascular disease. The study found that seniors over 75 with low blood pressure had a significantly higher mortality risk, with a critical lower limit of 130/80 mmHg. The study also revealed that low blood pressure has a stronger impact on mortality rate than high blood pressure, particularly in seniors over 75 with poor overall health and those over 85 years old.
The study’s authors emphasize that further research is needed to confirm their findings and to determine which patient groups would benefit from aggressive blood pressure control. They caution against patients discontinuing blood pressure medication without consulting their doctors, as blood pressure therapy can prevent strokes and heart attacks. The study’s results suggest that achieving a low blood pressure, which is often the goal of blood pressure therapy in older patients, may not always be beneficial to health. The study’s lead author, Jane Masoli, stresses the need for personalized blood pressure treatment to ensure the safety and effectiveness of blood pressure control in older patients.
In conclusion, the study highlights the importance of blood pressure control in seniors and the need for further research to determine the optimal blood pressure range for this population. The study’s findings suggest that low blood pressure may have negative long-term health effects and that aggressive blood pressure control may not be suitable for all older patients. The study’s authors call for personalized blood pressure treatment to ensure the safety and effectiveness of blood pressure control in older patients.
