Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
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The objective of this study was to describe antihypertensive medication use, determine what effects comorbid illness has on prescribing of commonly used antihypertensive medications, and explore how treatment affected selected clinical and functional outcomes in US nursing home residents. ⋯ Hypertension is prevalent in US nursing home residents and most residents with that diagnosis (84%) are being treated with antihypertensive medication. Through examination of the National Nursing Home Survey database, associations between the use of selected antihypertensive medication, comorbid illness, and specified outcomes were observed.
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Elders' predilections regarding end-of-life interventions vary with their living environs. ⋯ Elders residing in nursing homes were more likely than ambulatory patients to request invasive end-of-life care, a difference that was more pronounced when outcome required disposition to an SNF. These preferences were not dependent on patients' self-described disability or quality of life. This study suggests that qualitative outcomes matter to patients and their choices are associated with their place of residence.