Continuing or temporarily stopping prestroke antihypertensive medication in acute stroke: an individual patient data meta-analysis

Woodhouse, L. J., Manning, L., Potter, J. F., Berge, E., Sprigg, N., Wardlaw, J., Lees, K. R., Bath, P. M. and Robinson, T. G. (2017) Continuing or temporarily stopping prestroke antihypertensive medication in acute stroke: an individual patient data meta-analysis. Hypertension, 69(5), pp. 933-941. (doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.116.07982) (PMID:28264916)

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Abstract

Over 50% of patients are already taking blood pressure–lowering therapy on hospital admission for acute stroke. An individual patient data meta-analysis from randomized controlled trials was undertaken to determine the effect of continuation versus temporarily stopping preexisting antihypertensive medication in acute stroke. Key databases were searched for trials against the following inclusion criteria: randomized design; stroke onset ≤48 hours; investigating the effect of continuation versus stopping prestroke antihypertensive medication; and follow-up of ≥2 weeks. Two randomized controlled trials were identified and included in this meta-analysis of individual patient data from 2860 patients with ≤48 hours of acute stroke. Risk of bias in each study was low. In adjusted logistic regression and multiple regression analyses (using random effects), we found no significant association between continuation of prestroke antihypertensive therapy (versus stopping) and risk of death or dependency at final follow-up: odds ratio 0.96 (95% confidence interval, 0.80–1.14). No significant associations were found between continuation (versus stopping) of therapy and secondary outcomes at final follow-up. Analyses for death and dependency in prespecified subgroups revealed no significant associations with continuation versus temporarily stopping therapy, with the exception of patients randomized ≤12 hours, in whom a difference favoring stopping treatment met statistical significance. We found no significant benefit with continuation of antihypertensive treatment in the acute stroke period. Therefore, there is no urgency to administer preexisting antihypertensive therapy in the first few hours or days after stroke, unless indicated for other comorbid conditions.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Lees, Professor Kennedy
Authors: Woodhouse, L. J., Manning, L., Potter, J. F., Berge, E., Sprigg, N., Wardlaw, J., Lees, K. R., Bath, P. M., and Robinson, T. G.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
Journal Name:Hypertension
Publisher:American Heart Association
ISSN:0194-911X
ISSN (Online):1524-4563
Published Online:06 March 2017
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2017 American Heart Association
First Published:First published in Hypertension 69(5):933-941
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher

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