Desprescribing antihypertensives in older people in primary care: subgroup analysis of the MINOR randomised clinical trial

Background: Polypharmacy is often required for older adults with hypertension, and excessive treatment is associated with a high risk of adverse reactions, including hypotension.

Aim: To evaluate the deprescribing of antihypertensive medications guided by pharmacists using home blood pressure monitoring in older adults with hypotension.

Method: A subgroup of older adults with signs or symptoms of hypotension, included in the MINOR clinical trial, was analysed. In the MINOR procedures, each patient was provided with a device to conduct blood pressure measurement at home for 1 week, following which a report was generated and shared with pharmacists (intervention group) or family physicians (control group). In the intervention group, a pharmacist suggested optimising pharmacotherapy; meanwhile, in the control group, a family physician alone determined the necessary treatment adjustments. Differences in mean blood pressure, the patients with symptoms/signs of hypotension, and the antihypertensive medication deprescribing between both groups were analysed.

Results: Seventy-two patients were evaluated (35, control group; 37, intervention group). The intervention group showed a significant reduction in medication prescriptions (- 28.6%; P < 0.001), especially beta-blockers (- 74.2%), loop diuretics (- 83.3%), and aldosterone antagonists (- 80%). The mean office blood pressure in the intervention group increased (14.1 mmHg systolic and 6.9 mmHg diastolic), remaining below the target range (140/90 mmHg). The intervention group showed a significantly reduction in hypotensive symptoms than the control group (64.9% vs. 20%) (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: The data highlight an important role for pharmacists in optimizing hypertension management in older people. Deprescribing antihypertensives can limit symptomatic hypotension.

Trial registration: Registered on ClinicalTrials.gov under number NCT04861727.