Antihypertensive drug use in the long-term care facility: a pilot study and review of the literature.

The overuse and cost of drugs in long-term care facilities are of significant concern. To quantify potential overuse of antihypertensive agents, we conducted a retrospective chart review in four long-term care facilities. We analyzed data in 550 patient records to identify residents receiving drugs for the sole indication of hypertension. Of the 550 records, 49 (9%) residents qualified. Of these, 20 (41%) had all recorded blood pressures less than 140/90 mm Hg for the 6 months before review, and 32 (65%) had all blood pressures less than 160/90 mm Hg. Given this degree of blood pressure control and the reported success of withdrawing antihypertensive drugs from the elderly in whom the disorder is well controlled, a reevaluation of antihypertensive therapy in residents of long-term care facilities appears to be justified.