BackgroundIn oldest-old patients (>80), few trials showed efficacy of treating hypertension and they included mostly the healthiest elderly. The resulting lack of knowledge has led to inconsistent guidelines, mainly based on systolic blood pressure (SBP), cardiovascular disease (CVD) but not on frailty despite the high prevalence in oldest-old. This may lead to variation how General Practitioners (GPs) treat hypertension. Our aim was to investigate treatment variation of GPs in oldest-olds across countries and to identify the role of frailty in that decision.MethodsUsing a survey, we compared treatment decisions in cases of oldest-old varying in SBP, CVD, and frailty. GPs were asked if they would start antihypertensive treatment in each case. In 2016, we invited GPs in Europe, Brazil, Israel, and New Zealand. We compared the percentage of cases that would be treated per countries. A logistic mixed-effects model was used to derive odds ratio (OR) for frailty with 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusted for SBP, CVD, and GP characteristics (sex, location and prevalence of oldest-old per GP office, and years of experience). The mixed-effects model was used to account for the multiple assessments per GP.ResultsThe 29 countries yielded 2543 participating GPs: 52% were female, 51% located in a city, 71% reported a high prevalence of oldest-old in their offices, 38% and had >20 years of experience. Across countries, considerable variation was found in the decision to start antihypertensive treatment in the oldest-old ranging from 34 to 88%. In 24/29 (83%) countries, frailty was associated with GPs’ decision not to start treatment even after adjustment for SBP, CVD, and GP characteristics (OR 0.53, 95%CI 0.48–0.59; ORs per country 0.11–1.78).ConclusionsAcross countries, we found considerable variation in starting antihypertensive medication in oldest-old. The frail oldest-old had an odds ratio of 0.53 of receiving antihypertensive treatment. Future hypertension trials should also include frail patients to acquire evidence on the efficacy of antihypertensive treatment in oldest-old patients with frailty, with the aim to get evidence-based data for clinical decision-making.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12877-017-0486-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

ObjectivesWe previously found large variations in general practitioner (GP) hypertension treatment probability in oldest-old (>80 years) between countries. We wanted to explore whether differences in country-specific cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden and life expectancy could explain the differences.DesignThis is a survey study using case-vignettes of oldest-old patients with different comorbidities and blood pressure levels. An ecological multilevel model analysis was performed.SettingGP respondents from European General Practice Research Network (EGPRN) countries, Brazil and New Zeeland.SubjectsThis study included 2543 GPs from 29 countries.Main outcome measuresGP treatment probability to start or not start antihypertensive treatment based on responses to case-vignettes; either low (<50% started treatment) or high (≥50% started treatment). CVD burden is defined as ratio of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost due to ischemic heart disease and/or stroke and total DALYs lost per country; life expectancy at age 60 and prevalence of oldest-old per country.ResultsOf 1947 GPs (76%) responding to all vignettes, 787 (40%) scored high treatment probability and 1160 (60%) scored low. GPs in high CVD burden countries had higher odds of treatment probability (OR 3.70; 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.00–4.57); in countries with low life expectancy at 60, CVD was associated with high treatment probability (OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.12–4.25); but not in countries with high life expectancy (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.56–1.98).ConclusionsGPs’ choice to treat/not treat hypertension in oldest-old was explained by differences in country-specific health characteristics. GPs in countries with high CVD burden and low life expectancy at age 60 were most likely to treat hypertension in oldest-old.Key Points • General practitioners (GPs) are in a clinical dilemma when deciding whether (or not) to treat hypertension in the oldest-old (>80 years of age). • In this study including 1947 GPs from 29 countries, we found that a high country-specific cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden (i.e. myocardial infarction and/or stroke) was associated with a higher GP treatment probability in patients aged >80 years. • However, the association was modified by country-specific life expectancy at age 60. While there was a positive association for GPs in countries with a low life expectancy at age 60, there was no association in countries with a high life expectancy at age 60. • These findings help explaining some of the large variation seen in the decision as to whether or not to treat hypertension in the oldest-old.

Theme: 'Reducing the risk of chronic diseases in general practice/family medicine'

A vérnyomáscsökkentő terápiában a családorvosi gyakorlatban megmutatkozó eltérések elemzése érdekében 2543 családorvos bevonásával online kérdőíves felmérést végeztünk különböző karakterisztikájú – esendőség, SBP és CVD tekintetében –, nagyon idős (80 évesnél idősebb) betegek körében. Arra is kerestük a választ, hogy mennyire befolyásolja a kezelési döntésüket az időskori esendőség. A tanulmányunk másik célkitűzése a magyar eredmények összehasonlítása volt a nemzetközi eredményekkel. Országonként összehasonlításra került azon esetek aránya, amelyekben a kezelés mellett döntöttek a családorvosok. A 29 országból 24 országban (83%) a beteg esendő állapotát a családorvosok azzal a döntéssel kapcsolták össze, hogy inkább nem indítanak kezelést. A legalacsonyabb kezelési arány Hollandiában volt, a legmagasabb arány pedig Ukrajnában. Magyarország azon országok közé tartozott, ahol a családorvosok inkább kezelik az esendő pácienseket (a kezelési arány 50–59% között volt). A páciens esendősége nem befolyásolta a terápia megkezdését, sokkal jobban a cardiovascularis megbetegedés és a 160 Hgmm feletti SBP. A vizsgálat fontos üzenete volt, hogy továbbra is szükséges a családorvosok és a családorvos-rezidensek oktatása az idős, esendő hypertoniás betegek kezelésével kapcsolatban.

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