Effect of Number and Classes of Anti-hypertensive Medication on Cardiovascular Events and Mortality in Older Adults with Hypertension.

aHazard ratios were estimated for users of 1, 2 and 3 or more anti-hypertensive medication classes, in reference to those who did not use anti-hypertensive medications.bRepresented in the models by three dummy indicators.cThe outcome was occurrence during follow-up of acute coronary syndrome (MI, unstable angina, or cardiac revascularization), stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. The variables included in the propensity score are noted in Table 1. For the propensity score adjusted cohort analyses, the models adjusted for year of study entry, age, gender, race, prior myocardial infarction, prior stroke, prior hospitalization for heart failure, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, valvular heart disease, renal disease, statin use, current smoking status, difficulty walking, obesity, depression, cognitive impairment, number of non-antihypertensive medications, self-perceived health, blood pressure taken within past six month) and a continuous variable for propensity score. For the PS-matched cohort analyses, the models adjusted for the same covariates, accounting for the propensity score matched sets as a clustering factor.dThe outcome was death during follow-up among all cohort members. The models adjusted for the same covariates as for the cardiovascular event model.eParticipants may use more than one class; model hazard ratio contrasts users versus non-users (reference) of each anti-hypertensive medication class, adjusting for use of other anti-hypertensive classes. The propensity score adjusted and propensity scare matched analyses were performed as described above.