A new study from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) raises important questions about how we treat high blood pressure in older adults who are in the hospital for reasons that have nothing to do with heart problems.
High blood pressure is often seen as something that must be treated quickly. Doctors usually worry it might lead to serious issues like heart attacks or strokes.
But this new research, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, suggests that this kind of aggressive treatment might not always be the best approach—especially for older adults who are in the hospital for non-heart-related problems.
The study looked at medical records of more than 66,000 older adults who were admitted to hospitals for various non-heart conditions.
Researchers closely examined what kind of blood pressure treatments these patients received during their first two days in the hospital. The data came from the Veterans Health Administration, a large healthcare system in the U.S.
What they found was surprising. Around 20% of these patients were given more intense blood pressure medications than they were normally taking at home. Even more concerning, 18% of these treatments involved intravenous (IV) medication, which works very quickly to lower blood pressure.
Patients who received these stronger treatments early in their hospital stay were more likely to develop complications. These included damage to the heart, injury to the kidneys, and even being moved to the intensive care unit (ICU). The risks were even higher when IV medications were used.
Dr. Timothy S. Anderson, who led the study, explained that blood pressure often goes up temporarily in the hospital due to things like pain, stress, fever, or new medications. He said that treating these short-term changes too aggressively—especially when there are no clear symptoms—could do more harm than good.
Because of this, Dr. Anderson recommends that doctors be more cautious. He advises against using IV medications unless they are absolutely needed and encourages a “wait and see” approach if the patient is not showing symptoms.
This study highlights the need for better guidelines on how to manage high blood pressure in older adults while they’re in the hospital. A “one-size-fits-all” strategy may not work, especially for those who aren’t in the hospital for heart-related issues.
In short, this research sends a clear message: sometimes, less is more. By being careful and thinking about each patient’s situation, doctors may help reduce side effects and improve recovery. Understanding the root cause of high blood pressure in the hospital is just as important as deciding whether or not to treat it right away.
If you care about blood pressure, please read studies about why checking blood pressure while lying down is very important and lowering top blood pressure number to less than 120 mm Hg effectively prevents heart disease.
For more about blood pressure, please read studies that turmeric and vitamin D may boost blood pressure control in type 2 diabetes and scientists find link between blood pressure drugs and bowel diseases.
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