By David Liu, PHD

Monday  Oct 22, 2012 (foodconsumer.org) -- High blood pressure is more harmful to young people than old people, probably because old people have more other risks to worry about.  Likewise, among old people with high blood pressure, the frail face a lower risk from the condition, compared to those who are strong, according to a study in Archives of Internal Medicine.

M. C. Odden of Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon and colleagues conducted the study and found high blood pressure associated with a greater risk of mortality in faster walking older people.  

Walking speed is a measure of frailty. The study showed that faster walkers were more likely to face a higher risk of death than slower walkers.

The study analysed data from 2,340 men and women aged 65 years or older enrolled in the National Health Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999/2000 and 2001/2002.   Mortality data were collected from the National Death Index.  As of Dec 31, 2006, 589 deaths had been identified.

In the survey, all subjects were subject to a walking speed test and 1,307 men and women could walk faster defined as walking at a speed of 0.8 m/s or greater, 790 walked slower and 243 could not walk six meters in the test.

Among faster walkers, subjects with elevated systolic blood pressure  of 140 mm Hg or higher were 35 percent more likely to die than those who lower systolic blood pressure.

Among slower walkers, neither elevated systolic nor diastolic blood pressure of  90 mm Hg or higher was associated with mortality. 

Among those who could not complete the 6-meter walking test,  those who had high  systolic blood pressure were actually 62 percent less likely to die whereas those who had high diastolic blood pressure were 90 percent less likely to die.

The researchers concluded "Walking speed could be a simple measure to identify elderly adults who are most at risk for adverse outcomes related to high BP (blood pressure)."