New Blood Pressure Guidelines too High for Patients 60 & Above; Causes Increased Risk of Stroke: Study

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A new study published in "Hypertension" argues that people with systolic blood pressure (meaning the number on top in a blood pressure reading) of 140 to 149 are 70% more at risk of stroke compared to those with lower blood pressure, Healthday reports.

The recommendations released by a U.S. panel in 2014 claim that for people 60 years old and above, doctors should prescribe treatment if they have 140 to 150 systolic blood pressure.

These were released by U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Eighth Joint National Committee (JNC8), which was formed in 2008 to update the high blood pressure treatment guidelines released in 2003. Their final recommendation was released in 2014, and indicated that adults who were 60 years old and above should take blood pressure medication if their blood pressure went above 150/90, which is higher than the previous guideline of 140/90.

According to U.S. News & World Report, researchers led by Dr. Ralph Sacco, chair of neurology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, analyzed data from 1,750 participants aged 60 years old and above in the Northern Manhattan Study, a study of stroke risk in a multi-ethnic community. All of the participants did not have diabetes or chronic kidney disease, which are both risk factors for stroke.

The study had a follow-up of 13 years, during which researchers found that 182 people suffered a stroke. This led researchers to believe that having a systolic blood pressure of 140 to 149 put them in higher risk for stroke, just as much as having systolic blood pressure greater than 150. Additionally, they found that Hispanics and African Americans also had an increased stroke risk.

"Our study shows the borderline group is probably as risky as having a blood pressure greater than 150, at least for stroke risk. This was a controversial move, and I think our study suggests we shouldn't switch it to 150. We should stick to 140," Dr. Sacco explained. "We were concerned about the recommendations' potential effect on stroke prevention. Our findings support adherence to current American Heart Association treatment guidelines."

Meanwhile, Dr. Paul James, head of family medicine at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine argues that the study doesn't provide enough evidence to discredit the JNC8 recommendations, and also pointed out how "the evidence told us going below 150 did not seem to translate into improved health or improved mortality."

In the United States alone, about 700 million Americans or 29% of the adult population have high blood pressure, according to the CDC, and only half of those who have high blood pressure have their condition under control. Moreover, about one out of three American adults has prehypertension, a condition in which blood pressures are higher than normal, but do not yet fall into the high blood pressure category.