An observational analysis found that many of older adults with high blood pressure (BP) could be reversed without the intervention of drug treatment in the first few years after diagnosis, and the remission was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The analysis included 2760 participants aged 33–99 years (median 60 years) from 2 nationally representative cohorts in England and the US between 1998 to 2018. Remission of high BP was defined as having a normal BP (i.e., BP < 140/90 mmHg) at the last measurement. During a median follow-up of 6 years, 52% of the participants showed a reduction of ≥6 mmHg in systolic BP and 60% a reduction of ≥3 mmHg in diastolic BP. 42% of the participants achieved remission at the last measurement, and by then 67%, 43%, and 29% of them had maintained the normotensive state for around 4, 8, and 12 years, respectively. Various supplementary analyses that aimed to examine the impact of chance and bias yielded similar results. Preliminary analyses showed that being non-smokers at baseline, achieving a normal body mass index, and quitting alcohol drinking during follow-up, among others, were associated with the remission of high BP. Compared with the participants who remained high BP, those who achieved remission had a lower CVD risk (adjusted hazard ratio 0.66). The findings challenge that high BP is a lifelong condition, and may have implications for more individualized management of high BP. Source: https://www.thelancet.com/
