Gerontology & Geriatric Research

MILDLY ELEVATED BLOOD PRESSURE CORRELATES WITH BETTER FUNCTIONAL STATUS AND MAY REDUCE THE RISK OF COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT IN CENTENARIANS

5^th International Conference on Geriatric Medicine & Gerontological Nursing

November 14-15, 2016 | Atlanta, USA

Agnieszka Batko-Szwaczka

Medical University of Silesia, Poland

Keynote: J Gerontol Geriat Res

Abstract:

Every year the life expectancy of human beings increases. Increase number of centenarians results from the advancing ageing of populations. Older people, including centenarians are more vulnerable to chronic illnesses, including dementia and high blood pressure. Hypertension is a proven independent risk factor of death and also is a well-recognized risk factor for vascular dementia and Alzheimer´s disease. Dementia describes a variety of symptoms that may include intellectual and mental defects. We have performed a cross-sectional study to characterize the clinical and functional state of Polish centenarians, with a special focus on blood pressure. The main goal of this study was to investigate a possible relationship between blood pressure, cognitive and physical performance in centenarians. The study comprised 86 consecutive 100.9± 1.2 years old (mean±SD) subjects (70 women and 16 men). The study subjects were followed up on the phone for at least 180 days after the examination. Seventy-one subjects (83%) survived 180 days or more. Survivors as compared to non-survivors had higher systolic blood pressure (all subjects mmHg 150.0±28.2, survivors: 153.2±28.4, non-survivors: 134.0±22.5, p 0.015) and mean arterial pressure (all subjects mmHg 101.5±16.5, survivors: 103.3±17.0, non-survivors: 93.1±11.2, p 0.019), higher MMSE score (all subjects 16.2±8.1, survivors 17.8±7.2, non-survivors 8.4±7.7, p <0.001), ADL (all subjects 3.21±2.16, survivors 3.61±2.02, non-survivors 1.33±1.84, p <0.001), Barthel Index (all subjects 57.8±31.9, survivors 63.9±28.4, non-survivors 29.3±33.1, p <0.001) and IADL score (all subjects 11.7±4.1, survivors 12.2±4.0, non-survivors 9.3±3.5, p 0.002). Mildly elevated blood-pressure in oldest-old patients may be beneficial.

Biography :

Agnieszka Batko-Szwaczka has been graduated from Medical University of Silesia in year 2000, as a Medical Doctor. Later on she obtained her post-graduation from Medical University of Silesia with the specialties including Internal Medicine (2008) and Geriatrics (2012). For many years she also worked with the students as academic teacher. In 2007 she started working at Department of Geriatrics, School of Health Sciences, and Medical University of Silesia, Poland, where she has continued her research on centenarians. Presently she has been working at the same department on frailty syndrome. She is an experienced physician geriatrician and a very good didactics.

Email: agabatko@vp.pl