July 2017 – Study shows burden may outweigh the benefit for managing hypertension in elders with a history of falls.
Antihypertensive medications were associated with an increased risk of a serious fall injury, particularly among those with previous falls. The potential harms vs. benefits of BP meds should be weighed in deciding to continue treatment in older adults with multiple chronic illnesses.
We use standing blood pressures as a guide to tapering antihypertensives in seriously ill elders with falls, leaving rate-limiting medications as the last to go.
http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/1832197
For more information contact Dr. Leslie Estep or Dr. Anita Meyer at Hospice of the Northwest,
360-814-5550, or [email protected] or [email protected]
