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Current Hypertension Reports

Open Access 12-02-2024 | Hypertension | Blood Pressure Monitoring and Management (J Cockcroft, Section Editor)

Strategies for Identifying Patients for Deprescribing of Blood Pressure Medications in Routine Practice: An Evidence Review

Authors: James P. Sheppard, Athanase Benetos, Jonathan Bogaerts, Danijela Gnjidic, Richard J. McManus

Published in: Current Hypertension Reports

Abstract

Purpose of Review

To summarise the evidence regarding which patients might benefit from deprescribing antihypertensive medications.

Recent Findings

Older patients with frailty, multi-morbidity and subsequent polypharmacy are at higher risk of adverse events from antihypertensive treatment, and therefore may benefit from antihypertensive deprescribing. It is possible to examine an individual’s risk of these adverse events, and use this to identify those people where the benefits of treatment may be outweighed by the harms. While such patients might be considered for deprescribing, the long-term effects of this treatment strategy remain unclear.

Summary

Evidence now exists to support identification of those who are at risk of adverse events from antihypertensive treatment. These patients could be targeted for deprescribing interventions, although the long-term benefits and harms of this approach are unclear.

Perspectives

Randomised controlled trials are still needed to examine the long-term effects of deprescribing in high-risk patients with frailty and multi-morbidity.

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Title: Strategies for Identifying Patients for Deprescribing of Blood Pressure Medications in Routine Practice: An Evidence Review
Authors: James P. Sheppard
Athanase Benetos
Jonathan Bogaerts
Danijela Gnjidic
Richard J. McManus
Publication date: 12-02-2024
Publisher: Springer US
Keywords: Hypertension
Hypertension
Hypertension in General Practice
Geriatric Patient in General Practice
Cardiovascular Disease in General Practice
Frailty in Geriatric Patients
Published in: Current Hypertension Reports
Print ISSN: 1522-6417
Electronic ISSN: 1534-3111
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-024-01293-5

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Abstract

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