Key result
Deprescribing antihypertensives may benefit frail older adults, though long-term clinical outcomes remain unclear.
Why the study?
To summarise the evidence regarding which patients might benefit from deprescribing antihypertensive medications.
Does deprescribing of antihypertensive medications reduce adverse events in older patients with frailty and multi-morbidity?
Does deprescribing of antihypertensive medications reduce adverse events in older patients with frailty and multi-morbidity?
Deprescribing antihypertensive medications may be considered in older, frail patients at high risk of adverse events, though long-term evidence from randomized controlled trials is still needed.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To summarise the evidence regarding which patients might benefit from deprescribing antihypertensive medications. RECENT FINDINGS: Older patients with frailty, multi-morbidity and subsequent polypharmacy are at higher risk of adverse events from antihypertensive treatment, and therefore may benefit from antihypertensive deprescribing. It is possible to examine an individual's risk of these adverse events, and use this to identify those people where the benefits of treatment may be outweighed by the harms. While such patients might be considered for deprescribing, the long-term effects of this treatment strategy remain unclear. Evidence now exists to support identification of those who are at risk of adverse events from antihypertensive treatment. These patients could be targeted for deprescribing interventions, although the long-term benefits and harms of this approach are unclear. PERSPECTIVES: Randomised controlled trials are still needed to examine the long-term effects of deprescribing in high-risk patients with frailty and multi-morbidity.
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Sheppard et al. (2024) conducted a review in Hypertension. Deprescribing of antihypertensive medications vs. Continued treatment was evaluated. Deprescribing antihypertensive medications may benefit older patients with frailty and multi-morbidity who are at high risk of adverse events, though long-term clinical effects remain unclear.
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