Seniors helped by blood pressure reduction

London -- A British-led international study showed significant mortality and stroke reductions among elderly patients receiving blood pressure lowering drugs.

The 3,845 patient study is the largest clinical trial looking at the effects of lowering blood pressure solely in people aged 80 and older.

Preliminary results of the trial, coordinated by scientists from Imperial College London, suggest lowering blood pressure significantly reduces both stroke and mortality in those older than 80 years.

Patients with high blood pressure from around the world were randomized for the double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, which began in 2001.

"It was not clear prior to our study whether the over-80s would benefit from blood pressure lowering medication in the same way as younger people," said Professor Emeritus Chris Bulpitt, the study's principal investigator. "Our results are great news for people in this age group because they suggest that where they have high blood pressure, such treatment can cut their chances of dying as well as stroke."

The researchers said definitive figures will not be available until all the data has been collected. Results will then be published in the scientific press.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International.