Discontinuation of Antihypertensive Therapy and Dementia Incidence in the United Kingdom

Van Dalen et al1 have reported that antihypertensive therapy withdrawal in older people living in communities may increase dementia risk. In their interesting and clinically relevant study, they investigated approximately 1500 patients, 5.5% of whom discontinued antihypertensive therapy during the study. Discontinuation of antihypertensive medication was associated with a 1.8-2.2 higher incidence of dementia (hazard ratio from 1.8 to 2.2 depending on the covariables included in the model).