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Antihypertensive medication and low systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) have been associated with an increased falls risk in some studies. Many older adults have indicators of frailty, which may increase their risk for falls. We contrasted the association of SBP, DBP, number of antihypertensive medication classes taken, and indicators of frailty with risk for serious fall injuries among 5,236 REasons for Geographic and Racial Difference in Stroke study participants ≥65 years taking antihypertensive medication at baseline with Medicare fee-for-service coverage. SBP and DBP were measured and antihypertensive medication classes being taken assessed through a pill bottle review during a study visit. Indicators of frailty included low body mass index, cognitive impairment, depressive symptoms, exhaustion, impaired mobility and history of falls. Serious fall injuries were defined as fall-related fractures, brain injuries or joint dislocations using Medicare claims through December 31, 2014. Over a median of 6.4 years, 802 (15.3%) participants had a serious fall injury. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio for a serious fall injury among participants with 1, 2 or ≥3 indicators of frailty versus no frailty indicators were 1.18 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.99–1.40), 1.49 (95%CI, 1.19–1.87) and 2.04 (95%CI, 1.56–2.67), respectively. SBP, DBP, and number of antihypertensive medication classes being taken at baseline were not associated with risk for serious fall injuries after multivariable adjustment. In conclusion, indicators of frailty, but not BP or number of antihypertensive medication classes, were associated with increased risk for serious fall injuries among older adults taking antihypertensive medication.

The authors examined trends in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in 1988–1994 (n=1164), 1999–2004 (n=1,026), and 2005–2010 (n=1048) among US adults 80 years and older in serial National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Hypertension was defined as SBP ≥140 mm Hg, DBP ≥90 mm Hg, or use of antihypertensive medication. Awareness and treatment were defined by self‐report and control as SBP/DBP<140/90 mm Hg. Mean SBP decreased from 147.3 mm Hg to 140.1 mm Hg and mean DBP from 70.2 mm Hg to 59.4 mm Hg between 1988–1994 and 2005–2010. The prevalence, awareness, and treatment of hypertension each increased over time. Controlled hypertension increased from 30.4% in 1988–1994 to 53.1% in 2005–2010. The proportion of patients taking 3 classes of antihypertensive medication increased from 7.0% to 30.9% between 1988–1994 and 2005–2010. Increases in awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension and antihypertensive polypharmacy have been observed among very old US adults.

Introduction The aim of the study was to identify the association of systolic blood pressure (SBP) levels with cardiovascular events, all-cause mortality, and falls among elderly persons taking antihypertensive medication. Methods US adults ≥45 years of age taking antihypertensive medication enrolled in the REGARDS study were categorized into 3 age groups: 55–64, 65–74 and ≥75 years old and baseline on-treatment SBP levels. Our primary analyses focused on incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) (n=9,787) and all-cause mortality (n=13,948). Results During follow-up, 530 (5.4%) participants had CVD events and 2095 (15%) participants died. After multivariable adjustment among participants ≥75, the incidence of CVD per 1,000 person-years (95% confidence interval) was 16.9 (11.1–25.7), 13.4 (9.2–19.7), 11.6 (7.6–17.7), 17.8 (11.2–27.5) and 36.7 (26.6–50.8) at SBP levels of <120, 120–129, 130–139, 140–149, and ≥150mmHg, respectively. For the same SBP categories, the adjusted CVD incidence rates were 9.3 (7.2–12.0), 10.0 (8.1–12.3), 9.4 (7.5–11.8), 14.0 (11.0–17.8), and 16.4 (12.5–21.4), respectively, among participants 55–64 years, and 16.5 (13.6–21.5), 17.4 (14.8–20.6), 19.2 (16.4–22.5), 22.3 (18.6–26.9), and 27.6 (22.7–33.4), respectively, for participants 65–74 years. Among participants aged 55–64 and 65–74 years, a linear association was present between higher SBP categories and all-cause mortality risk (each p-trend<0.001). In contrast, for participants ≥75 years no association was present between SBP and all-cause mortality (p-trend=0.319). No association was observed between SBP and falls among participants in all age groups. Conclusions Among adults aged ≥55 taking antihypertensive medication, SBP between 120–139mmHg was significantly associated with a reduced risk for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality outcomes.

left ventricular assist device (LVAD) compared with intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) has been associated with increased risk of mortality and bleeding among patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and cardiogenic shock (CS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, evidence on the association of device therapy with a broader array of clinical outcomes, including data on long-term outcomes and cost, is limited. OBJECTIVE To examine the association between intravascular LVAD or IABP use and clinical outcomes and cost in patients with AMI complicated by CS. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTSThis retrospective propensity-matched cohort study used administrative claims data for commercially insured patients from 14 states across the US. Patients included in the analysis underwent PCI for AMI complicated by CS from January 1, 2015, to April 30, 2020. Data analysis was performed from April to November 2021.EXPOSURES Use of either an intravascular LVAD or IABP. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURESThe primary outcomes were mortality, stroke, severe bleeding, repeat revascularization, kidney replacement therapy (KRT), and total health care costs during the index admission. Clinical outcomes and cost were also assessed at 30 days and 1 year. RESULTS Among 3077 patients undergoing PCI for AMI complicated by CS, the mean (SD) age was 65.2 (12.5) years, and 986 (32.0%) had cardiac arrest. Among 817 propensity-matched pairs, intravascular LVAD use was associated with significantly higher in-hospital (36.2% vs 25.8%; odds ratio [OR], 1.63; 95% CI, 1.32-2.02), 30-day (40.1% vs 28.3%; OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.37-2.13), and 1-year mortality (58.9% vs 45.0%; hazard ratio [HR], 1.44; 95% CI, 1.21-1.71) compared with IABP. At 30 days, intravascular LVAD use was associated with significantly higher bleeding (19.1% vs 14.5%; OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.04-1.76), KRT (12.

Background and objectives Falls are common and associated with adverse outcomes in patients on dialysis. Limited data are available in earlier stages of CKD.Design, setting, participants, & measurements We analyzed data from 8744 Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke Study participants $65 years old with Medicare fee for service coverage. Serious fall injuries were defined as a fall-related fracture, brain injury, or joint dislocation using Medicare claims. Hazard ratios (HRs) for serious fall injuries were calculated by eGFR and albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR). Among 2590 participants with CKD (eGFR,60 ml/min per 1.73 m 2 or ACR$30 mg/g), cumulative mortality after a serious fall injury compared with age-matched controls without a fall injury was calculated.Results Overall, 1103 (12.6%) participants had a serious fall injury over 9.9 years of follow-up. The incidence rates per 1000 person-years of serious fall injuries were 21.7 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 20.3 to 23.2), 26.6 (95% CI, 22.6 to 31.3), and 38.3 (95% CI, 31.2 to 47.0) at eGFR levels $60, 45-59, and ,45 ml/min per 1.73 m 2 , respectively, and 21.3 (95% CI, 20.0 to 22.8), 31.7 (95% CI, 27.5 to 36.5), and 42.2 (95% CI, 31.3 to 56.9) at ACR levels ,30, 30-299, and $300 mg/g, respectively. Multivariable adjusted HRs for serious fall injuries were 0.91 (95% CI, 0.76 to 1.09) and 1.09 (95% CI, 0.86 to 1.37) for eGFR=45-59 and ,45 ml/min per 1.73 m 2 , respectively, versus eGFR$60 ml/min per 1.73 m 2 and 1.31 (95% CI, 1.11 to 1.54) and 1.81 (95% CI, 1.30 to 2.50) for ACR=30-299 and $300 mg/g, respectively, versus ACR,30 mg/g. Among participants with CKD, cumulative 1-year mortality rates among patients with a serious fall and age-matched controls were 21.0% and 5.5%, respectively.Conclusions Elevated ACR but not lower eGFR was associated with serious fall injuries. Evaluation for fall risk factors and fall prevention strategies should be considered for older adults with elevated ACR.

IntroductionAbnormal diurnal blood pressure (BP) rhythms may contribute to the high cardiovascular disease risk in HIV-positive (HIV+) individuals. To synthesize the current literature on ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) in HIV+ individuals, a systematic literature review and meta-analysis were performed.MethodsMedical databases were searched through November 11, 2015 for studies that reported ABPM results in HIV+ individuals. Data were extracted by 2 reviewers and pooled differences between HIV+ and HIV-negative (HIV-) individuals in clinic BP and ABPM measures were calculated using random-effects inverse variance weighted models.ResultsOf 597 abstracts reviewed, 8 studies with HIV+ cohorts met the inclusion criteria. The 420 HIV+ and 714 HIV- individuals in 7 studies with HIV- comparison groups were pooled for analyses. The pooled absolute nocturnal systolic and diastolic BP declines were 3.16% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13%, 5.20%) and 2.92% (95% CI: 1.64%, 4.19%) less, respectively, in HIV+ versus HIV- individuals. The pooled odds ratio for non-dipping systolic BP (nocturnal systolic BP decline <10%) in HIV+ versus HIV- individuals was 2.72 (95% CI: 1.92, 3.85). Differences in mean clinic, 24-hour, daytime, or nighttime BP were not statistically significant. I2 and heterogeneity chi-squared statistics indicated the presence of high heterogeneity for all outcomes except percent DBP dipping and non-dipping SBP pattern.ConclusionsAn abnormal diurnal BP pattern may be more common among HIV+ versus HIV- individuals. However, results were heterogeneous for most BP measures, suggesting more research in this area is needed.

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) can detect phenotypes associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Diabetes is associated with increased CVD risk but few data are available documenting whether blood pressure (BP) phenotypes, detected by ABPM, differ between individuals with versus without diabetes. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 567 participants in the Jackson Heart Study, a population-based study of African Americans, taking antihypertensive medication to evaluate the association between diabetes and ABPM phenotypes. Two clinic BP measurements were taken at baseline following a standardized protocol. ABPM was performed for 24 hours following the clinic visit. ABPM phenotypes included daytime, sustained, nocturnal, and isolated nocturnal hypertension, a non-dipping BP pattern, and white coat, masked, and masked isolated nocturnal hypertension. Diabetes was defined as fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL, hemoglobin A1c ≥6.5% (48 mmol/mol), or use of insulin or oral hypoglycemic medications. Of the included participants (mean age 62.3 years, 71.8% female), 196 (34.6%) had diabetes. After multivariable adjustment, participants with diabetes were more likely to have daytime hypertension (prevalence ratio [PR]: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.09–1.60), masked hypertension (PR: 1.46; 95% CI: 1.11–1.93), and masked isolated nocturnal hypertension (PR: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.02–1.89). Although nocturnal hypertension was more common among participants with versus without diabetes, this association was not present after adjustment for daytime systolic BP. Diabetes was not associated with the other ABPM phenotypes investigated. This study highlights the high prevalence of ABPM phenotypes among individuals with diabetes taking antihypertensive medication.