Individualized evaluation of co-morbidities and frailty domains is necessary to determine appropriate blood pressure targets and antihypertensive therapy in elderly and frail patients.
Management of hypertension in frail older adults requires an individualized approach, balancing cardiovascular benefits against the risks of overtreatment, hypotension, and adverse drug events.
Hypertension is a frequent finding in elderly patients. Hypertension in older age can be both associated with frailty and represent a risk factor for frailty. Hypertension is recognized as a main risk factor for cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and stroke and the occurrence of these diseases may provoke a decline in health status and/or worsen the degree of frailty. Blood pressure targets in hypertensive older and frail patients are not completely defined. However, specific evaluations of individual patients and their co-morbidities and assessment of domains and components of frailty, together with weighted consideration of drug use, may help in finding the appropriate therapy.
Guasti et al. (Fri,) conducted a review in Hypertension in elderly and frail patients. Antihypertensive therapy was evaluated. Individualized evaluation of co-morbidities and frailty domains is necessary to determine appropriate blood pressure targets and antihypertensive therapy in elderly and frail patients.