Importance

Observational studies indicate that lower blood pressure (BP) increases risk for cognitive decline in elderly individuals. Older persons are at risk for impaired cerebral autoregulation; lowering their BP may compromise cerebral blood flow and cognitive function.

Objective

To assess whether discontinuation of antihypertensive treatment in older persons with mild cognitive deficits improves cognitive, psychological, and general daily functioning.

Design, setting, and participants

A community-based randomized clinical trial with a blinded outcome assessment at the 16-week follow-up was performed at 128 general practices in the Netherlands. A total of 385 participants 75 years or older with mild cognitive deficits (Mini-Mental State Examination score, 21-27) without serious cardiovascular disease who received antihypertensive treatment were enrolled in the Discontinuation of Antihypertensive Treatment in Elderly People (DANTE) Study Leiden from June 26, 2011, through August 23, 2013 (follow-up, December 16, 2013). Intention-to-treat analyses were performed from January 20 through April 11, 2014.

Interventions

Discontinuation (n=199) vs continuation (n=186) of antihypertensive treatment (allocation ratio, 1:1).

Main outcomes and measures

Change in the overall cognition compound score. Secondary outcomes included changes in scores on cognitive domains, the Geriatric Depression Scale-15, Apathy Scale, Groningen Activity Restriction Scale (functional status), and Cantril Ladder (quality of life).

Results

Compared with 176 participants undergoing analysis in the control (continuation) group, 180 in the intervention (discontinuation) group had a greater increase (95% CI) in systolic BP (difference, 7.36 [3.02 to 11.69] mm Hg; P=.001) and diastolic BP (difference, 2.63 [0.34 to 4.93] mm Hg; P=.03). The intervention group did not differ from the control group in change (95% CI) in overall cognition compound score (0.01 [-0.14 to 0.16] vs -0.01 [-0.16 to 0.14]; difference, 0.02 [-0.19 to 0.23]; P=.84). The intervention and control groups did not differ significantly in secondary outcomes, including differences (95% CIs) in change in compound scores of the 3 cognitive domains (executive function, -0.07 [-0.29 to 0.15; P=.52], memory, 0.08 [-0.12 to 0.29; P=.43], and psychomotor speed, -0.85 [-1.72 to 0.02; P=.06]), symptoms of apathy (0.17 [-0.65 to 0.99; P=.68]) and depression (0.14 [-0.20 to 0.48; P=.41]), functional status (-0.72 [-1.52 to 0.09; P=.08]), and quality-of-life score (-0.09 [-0.34 to 0.16; P=.46]). Adverse events were equally distributed.

Conclusions and relevance

In older persons with mild cognitive deficits, discontinuation of antihypertensive treatment did not improve cognitive, psychological, or general daily functioning at the 16-week follow-up.

Trial registration

trialregister.nl Identifier: NTR2829.