Study Examines Effects of Intensive Blood Pressure Lowering on Physical Function

Intensive blood pressure (BP) lowering in older adults, specifically, lowering systolic blood pressure to less than 120 mm Hg rather than less than 140 mm Hg, had no effect on gait speed or changes in mobility limitation, according to a recent study.

While previous research has shown that intensive BP lowering is associated with cardiovascular benefits, its effects on physical function are unknown.
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To further investigate, researchers conducted a randomized, clinical trial of 2636 individuals aged 75 years or older who had hypertension and no history of diabetes or stroke. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either intensive treatment with a systolic BP target of less than 120 mm Hg vs standard treatment with a BP target of less than 140 mm Hg.

Overall, no difference in mean gait speed or mobility decline was observed between the intensive- and standard-treatment groups. The findings were consistent in subgroups based on age, baseline BP, or history of chronic kidney disease or cardiovascular disease.

“Among adults 75 years or older in SPRINT, treating to a systolic BP target of less than 120 mm Hg compared with a target of less than 140 mm Hg had no effect on changes in gait speed and was not associated with changes in mobility limitation.”

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Odden MC, Peralta CA, Berlowitz DR, et al. Effect of intensive blood pressure control on gait speed and mobility limitation in adults 75 years or older [published online February 6, 2017]. JAMA Intern Med. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.9104.