Sustained normotension in hypertensive patients withdrawn from medication for 1 year.
OBJECTIVE
Prior research indicates that up to 5% of hypertensive subjects can be successfully withdrawn from antihypertensive medications. This study determined if, in a family practice setting, greater than 5% of patients with mild essential hypertension could be withdrawn from their antihypertensive medication for more than 1 year and remain normotensive.


METHODS
We enrolled 116 randomly chosen volunteer patients. Of these, 96% were white, and 58% were female. The mean age was 57, and the mean history of hypertension was 10.1 years.


RESULTS
A total of 81 subjects completed the study; 46.9% of those 81 remained normotensive for 1 year after stopping medication. Females tended to do better than males at withdrawing from antihypertensives (58% versus 33%).


CONCLUSIONS
The proportion of patients who successfully withdrew from antihypertensive medication for 1 year and remained normotensive was significantly greater than expected. Further studies are needed to identify factors that predict which patients will remain normotensive without medication.
Ruoff
G E
GE
Westside Family Medical Center, Kalamazoo, Mich., USA.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents