Are current hypertension treatment guidelines too aggressive for elderly patients? One Doctor recently reviewed this question in the British Medical Journal publication Clinical Evidence.

Dr. James Wright is the Coordinating Editor of Clinical Evidence and also a member of the Cochrane Hypertension Review Group. His conclusion after carefully reviewing the results of seven high quality randomized controlled trials was to take a more conservative approach in his pharmacological treatment of patients 80 years and older, modeling his methods after those used in the Hypertension in the Very Elderly Trial (HYVET).

In his research, he found that of seven high quality studies the one which followed the HYVET guidelines was the only one to report a significant reduction in mortality. HYVET guidelines are simple and requires fewer anityhertensive medications  and also uses a target blood pressure of 150/80mmHg instead of the traditional 140/90.

To find out more about Dr. Wright’s research and conclusion, visit http://clinicalevidence.bmj.com/ceweb/resources/editors-letter-full.jsp?src=editorsletter_intro.