Tolerable blood pressure control levels do not impact mortality of patients over 80-year-old: Insights from NHANES 2009-2018

Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the impact of blood pressure levels on all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in hypertensive patients over 80-year-old using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009–2018.

Methods

A total of 8406 hypertensive patients under 80-year-old and 1082 hypertensive patients over 80-year-old were included. Kaplan-Meier curves, Cox proportional hazards regression models, and restricted cubic spline plots were employed.

Results

In patients over 80-year-old, neither systolic blood pressure (SBP) nor diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was significantly associated with all-cause or CVD mortality (P > 0.05). However, in hypertensive patients under 80-year-old, significant differences in mortality were observed across different SBP and DBP subgroups (P < 0.05), with an optimal SBP range of 120–140 mmHg associated with reduced all-cause mortality risk. In patients over 80-year-old, male patients, high urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio, total cholesterol, red blood cells, and elevated lymphocyte and neutrophil percentages were associated with increased all-cause mortality; SBP interaction with these risk factors slightly reduced the hazard ratio values separately.

Conclusion

Based on NHANES data from 2009 to 2018, tolerable SBP and DBP levels appear to have no significant impact on all-cause or CVD mortality in hypertensive patients over 80-year-old”.