Hypertension in the Nursing Home Residents

Abstract

Background The aim of the study was to compare comorbidity and pharmacological therapy in hypertensive and normotensive nursing home residents.
Material and Methods All 263 residents (197 women, 66 men) of the nursing home in Cracow were included to the study. The health status and medications were assessed based on the physical examination and analysis of medical records. Hypertension (HTN) was diagnosed ifan average value from 3 separate measurements exceeded 139 mm Hg for systolic or 89 mm Hg for diastolic, the antihypertensive agents were taken or such diagnosis was present in medical documentation. Student-t test and χ2 were used to compare data obtained in both groups.
Results Hypertension was found in 49% of subjects and they did not differ from normotensive patients when age (respectively 78.7 vs 77.7 years) and gender (percent of women: 76.0 and 73.9) were considered. Blood pressure values were signi ficantly higher in HTN subjects (131.5/74.7 vs 123.4/72.3; p < < 0.01). Moreover, the following comorbid conditions were found more frequently in HTN patients: coronary artery disease (70.5% vs 54.4%; p < 0.05), heart failure (56.6% vs 44.8%; NS), renal failure (22.5% vs 10.4%, p < 0.05), diabetes (36.7% vs 15.7%; p < 0.001 ), arthritis (32.6% vs 20.9%, p < 0.05). HTN subjects received more medications (5.26 t 2.06) and more tablets per day (11.78 ± 5.84) than their normotensive counterparts (3.76 ± 2.25; 8.68 ± 5.86). ACE inhibitors (62%) and diuretics (55%) were the most common agents, followed by calcium channel blockers (15.5%) and β-lockers (6.9%).
Conclusions Hypertension in the elderly residents of nursing home is associated with more frequent presence of comorbid conditions especially its complications. Therefore, hypertensive patients living in nursing home are prescribed more medications.