Atenolol use is associated with long-term mortality in community-dwelling older adults with hypertension

• Published in: Geriatrics & gerontology international 2014-01, Vol.14 (1), p.153-158
• Main Authors: Testa, Gianluca, Cacciatore, Francesco, Della-Morte, David, Mazzella, Francesca, Mastrobuoni, Chiara, Galizia, Gianluigi, Gargiulo, Gaetano, Rengo, Franco, Bonaduce, Domenico, Abete, Pasquale
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adrenergic beta-1 Receptor Antagonists - administration & dosage; Adrenergic beta-1 Receptor Antagonists - adverse effects; Aged; Arterial Pressure - drug effects; Arterial Pressure - physiology; atenolol; Atenolol - administration & dosage; Atenolol - adverse effects; Beta blockers; Confidence Intervals; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drugs; elderly; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Forecasting; Geriatric Assessment - methods; Geriatrics; Humans; Hypertension; Hypertension - drug therapy; Hypertension - mortality; Hypertension - physiopathology; Italy - epidemiology; long-term mortality; Male; Middle Aged; Mortality; Proportional Hazards Models; pulse arterial pressure; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Studies; Survival Rate - trends
• ISSN: 1444-1586; 1447-0594
• DOI: 10.1111/ggi.12073

Aim The role of atenolol, a non‐vasodilating beta‐blocker drug, on long‐term mortality in hypertensive older adults is still unclear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate long‐term mortality in community‐dwelling hypertensive older adults taking atenolol. Methods Long‐term mortality after 12‐year follow up in isolated hypertensive older adults (n = 972) was analyzed. The patients were stratified in the presence and absence of atenolol use. Systolic, diastolic and pulse arterial pressure were measured. Results Older adults taking atenolol showed a greater mortality and higher pulse arterial pressure values than those not taking atenolol (73.9% vs 55.0%; P = 0.047 and 74.7 ± 14.1 vs 63.0 ± 14.2 mmHg, P