Hypertension in patients with Alzheimer's disease--prevalence, characteristics, and impact on clinical outcome. Experience of one neurology center in Poland.

The aim of the study was to evaluate hypertension (HT) prevalence, characteristics, and impact on clinical outcome in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). We evaluated 701 patients with AD (249 males, 452 females, and mean age 74.9 ± 7.5 years). As a group representing general population matched with regard to age, education level, and place of residence, we included 762 subjects (438 males, 324 females, and mean age 74.7 ± 4.4 years) from the Polish National Multicenter Health Survey (WOBASZ) studies. The patients with AD were characterized by lower systolic blood pressure (BP) and diastolic BP values (134 ± 21 vs. 151 ± 23 mm Hg, P < .001 and 77 ± 11 vs. 86 ± 12 mm Hg, P < .001, respectively) as well as lower HT prevalence (66% vs. 78.6%, P < .001) compared with the WOBASZ group. In long-term follow-up of AD group, HT and BP levels were not associated with the decline in cognitive functions nor the increased risk of death. Patients with AD were characterized by lower prevalence of HT and other vascular risk factors. BP levels and HT had no impact on clinical outcome.