Discontinuation of anti-hypertensive drugs increases 11-year cardiovascular mortality risk in community-dwelling elderly (the Bambuí Cohort Study of Ageing)

Table 2 Person-years (PY), cardiovascular deaths (CVd), estimated* cardiovascular mortality rates (CVR, ‰ person-years) and rate ratios (CVRR, 95% confidence interval) by systolic blood pressure levels and antihypertensive drug exposure

Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)	Anti-hypertensive drug exposure
	Non-users				Current users				Stoppers
	PY	CVd	CVR	CVRR	PY	CVd	CVR	CVRR	PY	CVd	CVR	CVRR
< 120	1019.6	17	17.3	0.66 (0.36,1.22)	1070.1	32	26.2	1.00	257.1	21	60.6	2.31 (1.35,3.97)
120 - 139	1768.4	13	8.3	0.60 (0.31,1.16)	2854.6	39	13.8	1.00	615.6	30	37.5	2.72 (1.68,4.40)
140 - 159	770.3	4	5.7	0.62 (0.21,1.81)	2501.8	22	9.1	1.00	507.2	26	42.0	4.60 (2.59,8.16)
≥ 160	276.3	3	11.9	0.75 (0.22,2.59)	1239.5	20	15.9	1.00	174.6	13	60.8	3.84 (1.91,7.72)
Total	3834.6	37	10.0	0.67 (0.44,1.01)	7666.0	113	15.0	1.00	1554.5	90	46.7	3.12 (2.35,4.15)

*Using generalised linear Poisson model with a robust estimator of standard error. The model included terms for gender, time-dependent terms for age, systolic blood pressure and AHD use, and terms for baseline educational level, conjugal status, monthly family income, smoking, alcohol consumption, history of coronary heart disease, self-rated health, waist circumference, and plasma levels of LDL-cholesterol, glucose, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, uric acid and C-reactive protein.

ISSN: 1471-2458