title: [Arterial hypertension, antihypertensive therapy, and visit-to-visit blood pressure variability of elderly nursing home residents].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Arterial hypertension is a common health problem in older nursing home residents (NHR). The aim of this study was to prospectively analyze blood pressure (BP) patterns, antihypertensive therapy, and visit-to-visit BP variability in NHR.
  
  
  METHODS
  BP, visit-to-visit variability (estimated by standard deviation of means) of systolic BP (SBP) were analyzed in 12 nursing homes in Germany. NHR who were at least 65 years old and had no moderate or severe dementia were studied at baseline (T0), after 3 and 6 months, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BP data were available for 177 NHR (mean age 83.8, 69.5% female) at T0.  A total of 90.4% NHR was affected by hypertension. Mean systolic/diastolic blood pressure was 130,1/75,5 mmHg. BP values of ≥ 140/90 mmHg were found in 29.9%, while 33.9% of NHR exhibited SBP values < 120 mmHg. At least one antihypertensive drug was used in 84.2%, and 40.7% of NHR were treated with at least three different drugs. The median of the visit-to-visit SBP variability was 9.05 (Min. 0, Max. 35.78); an influence of age, sex, and type of antihypertensive medication was not found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elderly German NHR showed a high prevalence of hypertension and BP was controlled in 80%. However, a large proportion received intensive BP lowering pharmacotherapy and exhibited SBP values clearly lower than recommend target values between 140 and 150 mmHg particularly for elderly patients over 80 years. Thus, to avoid overtreatment BP should be monitored closely to adapt antihypertensive therapy in this population.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Könner
authors.affiliation: Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kuhnert
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Soziologie und Rehabilitationswissenschaft, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Budnick
authors.affiliation: Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kolloch
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Poliklinik, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scholze
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Soziologie und Rehabilitationswissenschaft, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dräger
authors.affiliation: Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kreutz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany; D006306:Health Surveys; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents