Increased Total Mortality and Decreased Functional Capacity Are Associated with Low Systolic Blood Pressure among Elderly Women

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Abstract
As part of an epidemiological survey of 75-, 80- and 85-year-old citizens of Copenhagen, the blood pressure of 566 participants was measured at home visits. Based on WHO criteria, systolic hypertension was present in 66% of the men and 71% of the women, and diastolic hypertension was demonstrated in 18% of the men and 22% of the women. The systolic blood pressure was significantly higher among women than among men. Surprisingly, the mortality rate was highest among women with low systolic blood pressure. There was no correlation between blood pressure and morbidity, except among men with low systolic blood pressure, the majority of whom suffered from neoplasms. The women with the lowest systolic blood pressure displayed poor functional capacity in four--and the men in one--out of ten partial functions. No correlation could be demonstrated between blood pressure and intake of medicine. In fact, participants receiving antihypertensives had higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures compared with the other participants.