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Berlowitz DR, Foy C, Conroy M, Evans GW, Olney CM, Pisoni R, Powell JR, Gure TR, Shorr RI. Impact of Intensive Blood Pressure Therapy on Concern about Falling: Longitudinal Results from the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT). Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 2020 Mar 1; 68(3):614-618.
OBJECTIVES: Concern about falling is common among older hypertension patients and could impact decisions to intensify blood pressure therapy. Our aim was to determine whether intensive therapy targeting a systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 120?mm Hg is associated with greater changes in concern about falling when compared with standard therapy targeting an SBP of 140?mm Hg. DESIGN: Subsample analysis of participants randomized to either intensive or standard therapy in the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT). SETTING: Approximately 100 outpatient sites. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 2313 enrollees in SPRINT; participants were all age 50 or older (mean = 69?y) and diagnosed with hypertension. MEASUREMENTS: Concern about falling was described by the shortened version of the Falls Efficacy Scale International as measured at baseline, 6 months, 1 year, and annually thereafter. RESULTS: Concern about falling showed a small but significant increase over time among all hypertension patients. No differences were noted, however, among those randomized to intensive vs standard therapy (P = .95). Among participants younger than 75?years, no increase in concern about falling over time was noted, but among participants aged 75?years and older, the mean falls self-efficacy score increased by .3 points per year (P? < .0001). No differences were observed between the intensive and standard treatment groups when stratified by age (P = .55). CONCLUSION: Intensive blood pressure therapy is not associated with increased concern about falling among older hypertension patients healthy enough to participate in SPRINT. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:614-618, 2020.