Response to Blood Pressure and Disability: First Steps in Future Studies

HomeHypertensionVol. 51, No. 4Response to Blood Pressure and Disability: First Steps in Future Studies Free AccessLetterPDF/EPUBAboutView PDFView EPUBSections ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload citationsTrack citationsPermissions ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InMendeleyReddit Jump toFree AccessLetterPDF/EPUBResponse to Blood Pressure and Disability: First Steps in Future Studies Ihab Hajjar Daniel Lackland L. Adrienne Cupples Lewis A. Lipsitz Ihab HajjarIhab Hajjar Harvard Medical School, Institute for Aging Research/Hebrew SeniorLife, Division of Gerontology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Mass Search for more papers by this author Daniel LacklandDaniel Lackland Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC Search for more papers by this author L. Adrienne CupplesL. Adrienne Cupples Boston University, Boston, Mass Search for more papers by this author Lewis A. LipsitzLewis A. Lipsitz Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, Mass Search for more papers by this author Originally published3 Mar 2008https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.108.109694Hypertension. 2008;51:e26Other version(s) of this articleYou are viewing the most recent version of this article. Previous versions: March 3, 2008: Previous Version 1 We thank Robbins et al1 for their interest in our work and for providing their data that support the association of systolic blood pressure with physical function and disabilities.Better self-report functional measures, reported in our article,2 as well as physical performance measures, reported by Robbins et al,1 predict independence and vitality with aging.3,4 Both are negatively impacted by higher systolic blood pressure, suggesting that systolic blood pressure has a significant and potent effect on critical aspects of aging, such as physical robustness and functional independence. We agree with Robbins et al1 that future studies need to include both self-reported measures and objective performance measures of functional abilities. They may reflect different stages in the path from hypertension to disability. In addition, the data by Robbins et al1 further support the need to investigate the impact of lowering blood pressure on these measures in future hypertension clinical trials.Finally, as in our study, Robbins et al1 found a differential effect of systolic blood pressure over diastolic blood pressure. This phenomenon is not surprising, because in the elderly population, systolic blood pressure is more likely to predict both cardiovascular and cerebrovascular outcomes. Both data imply that the hypertension effect is more likely to be related to elevated systolic rather than diastolic blood pressure.Sources of FundingI.H. was supported by grant K23 AG030057-01 from the National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, Md; the Society of Geriatric Cardiology Research Award; and the Hartford Center of Excellence career development award. D.L. was supported by grant IR01HL072377 from the National Institutes of Health. L.A.L. holds the Irving and Edyth S. Usen Chair in Geriatic Medicine at Hebrew SeniorLife. He was also supported by grants AG004390, AG08812, and AG005134 from the National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, Md.DisclosuresD.L. is on the Speakers’ Bureau for Novartis, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck, and Pfizer and has received research support from Novartis. The remaining authors report no conflicts.1 Robbins MA, Elias PK, Elias MF. Blood pressure and disability: first steps in future studies. Hypertension. 2008; 51: e25.LinkGoogle Scholar2 Hajjar I, Lackland DT, Cupples LA, Lipsitz LA. Association between concurrent and remote blood pressure and disability in older adults. Hypertension. 2007; 50: 1026–1032.LinkGoogle Scholar3 Guralnik JM, Ferrucci L, Pieper CF, Leveille SG, Markides KS, Ostir GV, Studenski S, Berkman LF, Wallace RB. Lower extremity function and subsequent disability: consistency across studies, predictive models, and value of gait speed alone compared with the short physical performance battery. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2000; 55: M221–M231.CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4 Guralnik JM, Ferrucci L, Simonsick EM, Salive ME, Wallace RB. Lower-extremity function in persons over the age of 70 years as a predictor of subsequent disability. N Engl J Med. 1995; 332: 556–561.CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar eLetters(0)eLetters should relate to an article recently published in the journal and are not a forum for providing unpublished data. Comments are reviewed for appropriate use of tone and language. Comments are not peer-reviewed. Acceptable comments are posted to the journal website only. Comments are not published in an issue and are not indexed in PubMed. Comments should be no longer than 500 words and will only be posted online. References are limited to 10. Authors of the article cited in the comment will be invited to reply, as appropriate.Comments and feedback on AHA/ASA Scientific Statements and Guidelines should be directed to the AHA/ASA Manuscript Oversight Committee via its Correspondence page.Sign In to Submit a Response to This Article Previous Back to top Next FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails April 2008Vol 51, Issue 4 Advertisement Article InformationMetrics https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.108.109694 Originally publishedMarch 3, 2008 PDF download Advertisement SubjectsEpidemiologyHypertension