Sodium reduction and weight loss in the treatment of hypertension in older persons: a randomized controlled trial of nonpharmacologic interventions in the elderly (TONE). TONE Collaborative Research Group.
BACKGROUND
Nonpharmacologic interventions are frequently recommended for treatment of hypertension in the elderly, but there is a paucity of evidence from randomized controlled trials in support of this recommendation.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether weight loss or reduced sodium intake is effective in the treatment of older persons with hypertension.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
A total of 975 [corrected] men and women aged 60 to 80 years with systolic blood pressure lower than 145 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure lower than 85 mm Hg while receiving treatment with a single antihypertensive medication.


METHODS
Four academic health centers.


METHODS
The 585 obese participants were randomized to reduced sodium intake, weight loss, both, or usual care, and the 390 nonobese participants were randomized to reduced sodium intake or usual care. Withdrawal of antihypertensive medication was attempted after 3 months of intervention.


METHODS
Diagnosis of high blood pressure at 1 or more follow-up visits, or treatment with antihypertensive medication, or a cardiovascular event during follow-up (range, 15-36 months; median, 29 months).


RESULTS
The combined outcome measure was less frequent among those assigned vs not assigned to reduced sodium intake (relative hazard ratio, 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59-0.81; P<.001) and, in obese participants, among those assigned vs not assigned to weight loss (relative hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.57-0.87; P<.001). Relative to usual care, hazard ratios among the obese participants were 0.60 (95% CI, 0.45-0.80; P<.001) for reduced sodium intake alone, 0.64 (95% CI, 0.49-0.85; P=.002) for weight loss alone, and 0.47 (95% CI, 0.35-0.64; P<.001) for reduced sodium intake and weight loss combined. The frequency of cardiovascular events during follow-up was similar in each of the 6 treatment groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Reduced sodium intake and weight loss constitute a feasible, effective, and safe nonpharmacologic therapy of hypertension in older persons.
Whelton
P K
PK
Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, La 70112, USA. PWHELTON@TULANE.EDU
Appel
L J
LJ
Espeland
M A
MA
Applegate
W B
WB
Ettinger
W H
WH
Kostis
J B
JB
Kumanyika
S
S
Lacy
C R
CR
Johnson
K C
KC
Folmar
S
S
Cutler
J A
JA
D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004039:Diet, Sodium-Restricted; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015431:Weight Loss
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D012982:Sodium, Dietary