Top news in aging and the heart: Benefits of aerobics, BP medication reduction and more
Healio and Cardiology Today have curated a list of the top news in CV health in the elderly.
Readers were most interested in the effect of frailty on transcatheter aortic valve replacement outcomes, the benefits of aerobic fitness, BP control and more.
Frailty increases bleeding risk after TAVR, surgical AVR
Frailty was linked to postprocedural bleeding in older patients undergoing TAVR or surgical AVR, according to a study published in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions. Read more
BP-lowering benefits extend to dementia prevention
Patients taking antihypertensive medications had lower risk for incident dementia or cognitive impairment compared with control groups, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis published in JAMA. Read more
Mortality, stroke rates after TAVR do not vary by age at 2 years
At 2 years following TAVR, nonagenarians experienced no greater risk for mortality or stroke than younger patients, despite being at greater surgical risk, researchers reported. Read more
Physical activity, CAC scores improve risk prediction in older patients
Incorporating a question about physical activity with coronary artery calcium scoring improved prediction of clinical and mortality risk in older patients, researchers reported. Read more
Aerobic fitness impact on autonomic BP control varies by age in women
Aerobic exercise may have little or no part in parasympathetic BP control among fit postmenopausal women, according to research published in Hypertension. Read more
In elderly, low BP may confer mortality risk
In older patients, lower BP was associated with elevated risk for all-cause mortality. Additionally, age, not frailty, demonstrated a stronger correlation to mortality in relation to systolic and diastolic BP. Read more
BP control in older patients feasible with medication reduction
Medication reduction in older patients treated with multiple antihypertensive medications was noninferior to usual care regarding the control of systolic BP at 12 weeks, according to data from the OPTIMISE trial published in JAMA. Read more