Drugs to lower blood pressure cut death rate from strokes
Drugs used to lower blood pressure can cut the death rate from strokes in the elderly by almost 40%, an international study has found.
Around 4,000 people in several countries, including Australia, were surveyed over two years for the survey which found for the first time that treating blood pressure in elderly patients could give them a new lease of life.
“The issue of the elderly is obviously becoming more important as the population ages and blood pressure does rise with age in our society,” said Melbourne-based Professor Stephen Harrap, president of the High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia.
Prof Harrap said that every year, more than 53,000 Australians suffered strokes, more than half of them over age 75. And more than 75% of those elderly Australians suffered from high blood pressure, which was a major contributor to fatal heart attacks and stokes. But until now, the medical profession had been reluctant to treat high blood pressure in the elderly for fear of causing complications.
But thiazide-like diuretics, which work on the kidneys, used in conjunction with ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitors, had produced a dramatic 39% increase in the survival rate following strokes, he said. The blood pressure lowering treatment also cut the overall death rate by more than 20%.
The study had been scheduled to run for five years with half the participants receiving the blood pressure lowering medication and half a placebo. But the huge improvement in life expectancy in those receiving the treatment prompted the researchers to terminate the trial early and extend treatment to all participants.
