A new study from the University of Oxford suggests that some older adults taking medication for high blood pressure may be able to safely reduce their treatment without losing control of their blood pressure. This could be welcome news for older patients who often take multiple medications and may benefit from a simpler routine.
The study looked at people aged 80 and older who were already being treated for high blood pressure. Most of them were taking two different blood pressure medications. The researchers wanted to see whether stopping one of these drugs would affect blood pressure control or lead to serious health problems.
A total of 569 participants were divided into two groups. One group (282 people) had one of their blood pressure medications removed. The other group (287 people) continued with their usual care. After 12 weeks, the researchers checked each person’s blood pressure and tracked any serious health events.
The results showed that blood pressure remained well controlled in both groups. In the medication reduction group, 86.4% of patients still had a systolic blood pressure (the top number) under 150 mm Hg.
This was very similar to the control group, where 87.7% stayed under that same limit. The average difference in systolic blood pressure between the two groups was only 3.4 mm Hg—slightly higher in the group that stopped a medication, but not by much.
In terms of safety, a few more people in the medication reduction group experienced serious health issues (12 people) compared to the usual care group (seven people), but the overall numbers were low. Most patients who had their medication reduced were able to stick with the change over the 12 weeks.
The findings suggest that, in some older patients, reducing blood pressure medications may be a safe option that doesn’t significantly affect blood pressure control. This could help reduce the risk of side effects, especially in people who are already taking several medications for different conditions.
However, the researchers emphasize that medication changes should always be done under medical supervision. Not every patient is a good candidate for reducing medications, and blood pressure should be closely monitored after any changes.
The study was led by Dr. James P. Sheppard and was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). It adds to growing evidence that personalized treatment plans can help older adults maintain good health without unnecessary medications.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about unhealthy habits that may increase high blood pressure risk, and drinking green tea could help lower blood pressure.
For more information about high blood pressure, please see recent studies about what to eat or to avoid for high blood pressure, and 12 foods that lower blood pressure.
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