Effects of Intensive Blood Pressure Treatment on Orthostatic Hypotension : A Systematic Review and Individual Participant-based Meta-analysis.

Pubmed ID: 32909814

Pubmed Central ID: PMC7855528

Journal: Annals of internal medicine

Publication Date: Jan. 1, 2021

Affiliation: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (S.P.J., J.L.C., K.J.M.).

MeSH Terms: Humans, Hypertension, Blood Pressure, Antihypertensive Agents, Blood Pressure Determination, Hypotension, Orthostatic

Grants: K23 HL135273

Authors: Mukamal KJ, Appel LJ, Miller ER, Davis BR, Staessen JA, Grandits G, Wright JT, Cushman WC, Juraschek SP, Coleman RL, Holman RR, Peters R, Taylor AA, Lipsitz LA, Thijs L, Hu JR, Cluett JL, Ishak A, Mita C, Beckett NS

Cite As: Juraschek SP, Hu JR, Cluett JL, Ishak A, Mita C, Lipsitz LA, Appel LJ, Beckett NS, Coleman RL, Cushman WC, Davis BR, Grandits G, Holman RR, Miller ER 3rd, Peters R, Staessen JA, Taylor AA, Thijs L, Wright JT Jr, Mukamal KJ. Effects of Intensive Blood Pressure Treatment on Orthostatic Hypotension : A Systematic Review and Individual Participant-based Meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med 2021 Jan;174(1):58-68. Epub 2020 Sep 10.

Studies:

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Although intensive blood pressure (BP)-lowering treatment reduces risk for cardiovascular disease, there are concerns that it might cause orthostatic hypotension (OH). PURPOSE: To examine the effects of intensive BP-lowering treatment on OH in hypertensive adults. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL from inception through 7 October 2019, without language restrictions. STUDY SELECTION: Randomized trials of BP pharmacologic treatment (more intensive BP goal or active agent) that involved more than 500 adults with hypertension or elevated BP and that were 6 months or longer in duration. Trial comparisons were groups assigned to either less intensive BP goals or placebo, and the outcome was measured OH, defined as a decrease of 20 mm Hg or more in systolic BP or 10 mm Hg or more in diastolic BP after changing position from seated to standing. DATA EXTRACTION: 2 investigators independently abstracted articles and rated risk of bias. DATA SYNTHESIS: 5 trials examined BP treatment goals, and 4 examined active agents versus placebo. Trials examining BP treatment goals included 18 466 participants with 127 882 follow-up visits. Trials were open-label, with minimal heterogeneity of effects across trials. Intensive BP treatment lowered risk for OH (odds ratio, 0.93 [95% CI, 0.86 to 0.99]). Effects did not differ by prerandomization OH (<i>P</i> for interaction = 0.80). In sensitivity analyses that included 4 additional placebo-controlled trials, overall and subgroup findings were unchanged. LIMITATIONS: Assessments of OH were done while participants were seated (not supine) and did not include the first minute after standing. Data on falls and syncope were not available. CONCLUSION: Intensive BP-lowering treatment decreases risk for OH. Orthostatic hypotension, before or in the setting of more intensive BP treatment, should not be viewed as a reason to avoid or de-escalate treatment for hypertension. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health. (PROSPERO: CRD42020153753).