Lack of blood pressure increase with age in long-term hospitalised patients with the sequelae of acute carbon monoxide poisoning.
We investigated retrospectively age-related changes in BP and body composition in 44 men who had been hospitalised for up to 26 yrs as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. The average age of the patients was 42.5 +/- 9.1 (SD) yrs on the first admission. The average period of hospitalisation was 19.5 +/- 5.9 yrs. The patients received mild salt restriction and daily exercise in the hospital. During the study period, nine patients developed hypertension and received antihypertensive treatment. The prevalence of hypertension in our study population was 205 per 1,000 and the incidence of hypertension (DBP > 95 mmHg) was 9.1 per 100 person years. Both prevalence and incidence appear to be lower than those in the general population. In the other 35 patients BP significantly decreased from 127.5 +/- 10.0 mmHg (SBP)/79.8 +/- 8.1 mmHg (DBP) at the time of the first examination to 120.8 +/- 16.3 mmHg/71.9 +/- 10.3 mmHg on the last examination. Body mass index did not change significantly during the study period. Hypertensive cardiovascular death was not observed throughout the study period. In conclusion, controlled diet, salt intake, physical exercise and isolation from the social stimuli achieved by a long-term hospitalisation may prevent increased BP and cardiovascular death.
Hatama
S
S
Omuta Rosai Hospital, Japan.
Tsuchihashi
T
T
Shida
K
K
Kawashima
H
H
Fujii
K
K
Onoyama
K
K
Fujishima
M
M
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002249:Carbon Monoxide Poisoning / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015994:Incidence; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies