Table 7 Categories for blood pressure management based on health and functional status in older adults aged ≥75 yearsa
Category 1 Preserved ADLs; able to attend outpatient visits independently. | Category 2 Reduced instrumental ADLs; assistance needed for outpatient visits. | Category 3 Reduced basic ADLs; unable to attend outpatient visits. | Category 4 end-of-life stage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
General health status | Fit to frail | Frail to needing care | Needing care | End-of-life |
Instrumental ADLb | Maintained | Reduced | Severely reduced | |
Basic ADLc | Maintained to reduced | Reduced | Severely reduced | |
Blood pressure targets | <130/80 mmHg | Target systolic BP < 140 mmHg; however, a more intensive target of <130 mmHg may be considered based on individual comorbidities and clinical context. | Target systolic BP < 150 mmHg; further lowering should be considered on an individual basis depending on comorbidities, but reduction to <120 mmHg should be avoided. | Individualized decision (with a reference range of systolic BP between 140 and 160 mmHg). |
Other approaches | Management strategy similar to that for non-elderly individuals. | Consider tapering antihypertensive medication when systolic BP falls below 120 mmHg. | Consider stepwise dose reduction or withdrawal of antihypertensive agents; initiation of treatment is not recommended in previously untreated individuals. | |