title: Atenolol use is associated with long-term mortality in community-dwelling older adults with hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The role of atenolol, a non-vasodilating beta-blocker drug, on long-term mortality in hypertensive older adults is still unclear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate long-term mortality in community-dwelling hypertensive older adults taking atenolol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Long-term mortality after 12-year follow up in isolated hypertensive older adults (n = 972) was analyzed. The patients were stratified in the presence and absence of atenolol use. Systolic, diastolic and pulse arterial pressure were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Older adults taking atenolol showed a greater mortality and higher pulse arterial pressure values than those not taking atenolol (73.9% vs 55.0%; P = 0.047 and 74.7 ± 14.1 vs 63.0 ± 14.2 mmHg, P < 0.001, respectively). Cox regression analysis showed that atenolol use (hazard risk 1.91; 95% confidence interval 1.04-4.31; P = 0.04) and pulse arterial pressure (hazard risk 1.02; 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.03; P = 0.032) were predictive of long-term mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Atenolol use was related to increased mortality in community-dwelling hypertensive Older adults. This increase in mortality risk seems to be related to an increase of pulse arterial pressure.
authors.affiliation: Translational Medical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy; Health Sciences Faculty, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Testa
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cacciatore
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Della-Morte
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mazzella
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mastrobuoni
authors.forename: Gianluigi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Galizia
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gargiulo
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rengo
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bonaduce
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abete
mesh_terms: D058671:Adrenergic beta-1 Receptor Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000368:Aged; D062186:Arterial Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001262:Atenolol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends
chemical_list: D058671:Adrenergic beta-1 Receptor Antagonists; D001262:Atenolol
keywords: atenolol; elderly; hypertension; long-term mortality; pulse arterial pressure