To the Editor: We appreciate the suggestion by Hao Peng et al. that the hypertension control rate in elderly patients (aged ≥60 years) should be calculated using the threshold of 150/90mm Hg, as recommended in the recently released report from the Eighth Joint National Committee.1 We recalculated the control rate following the blood pressure goal of 150/90mm Hg instead of 140/90mm Hg for people aged ≥60 years. The control rate increased from 28.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 25.1%–31.4%) to 36.8% (95% CI, 33.4%–40.1%) in males and from 26.7% (95% CI, 24.2%–29.3%) to 35.6% (95% CI, 32.8%–38.4%) in females. The total control rate in treated hypertensive patients was 36.1% (95% CI, 33.9%–38.2%) instead of 27.4% (95% CI, 25.4%–29.3%) as in our previous report.
DISCLOSURE
The authors declared no conflict of interest.
REFERENCE
- 1. James PA, Oparil S, Carter BL, Cushman WC, Dennison-Himmelfarb C, Handler J, Lackland DT, LeFevre ML, MacKenzie TD, Ogedegbe O, Smith SC, Jr., Svetkey LP, Taler SJ, Townsend RR, Wright JT, Jr., Narva AS, Ortiz E. 2014 evidence-based guideline for the management of high blood pressure in adults: Report from the panel members appointed to the eighth joint national committee. JAMA 2014; 311:507–520. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]