Inpharma 1511 - 29 Oct 2005

Antihypertensive use in the elderlydeterred by comorbidities

Noncardiovascular comorbidities deterantihypertensive use in elderly patients withhypertension, according to results from a studyconducted in the US.

Data from a retrospective analysis of 51 517 patientsaged ≥ 65 years with hypertension were analysed todetermine whether noncardiovascular comorbidities,including asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonarydisease (COPD), depression, GI disorders andosteoarthritis, deterred antihypertensive use in suchpatients.

Multivariate analysis showed that the likelihood ofantihypertensive use was significantly reduced in thepresence of any of the four comorbid conditions; asimilar reduction was observed when the analysis wasrestricted to patients with a clear indication forantihypertensive therapy. Increased antihypertensiveuse was associated with the presence of coronary arterydisease or diabetes mellitus, and decreased use wasassociated with higher Charlson comorbidity scores.Compared with patients who had comorbidosteoarthritis, patients with asthma/COPD ordepression were significantly less likely to useantihypertensives.Wang PS, et al. Effects of noncardiovascular comorbidities on antihypertensive usein elderly hypertensives. Hypertension 46: 273-279, No. 2, Aug 2005 800991330

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Inpharma 29 Oct 2005 No. 15111173-8324/10/1511-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved