Age- and Functional Status-Dependent Association Between Blood Pressure and Cognition: The Milan Geriatrics 75+ Cohort Study

Objectives To evaluate whether the relationship between blood pressure (BP) measures and cognitive function is different according to age and functional status in older outpatients. Design Cross‐sectional. Setting Outpatient hospital‐based Milan Geriatrics 75+ Cohort Study. Participants Individuals aged 75 and older (N = 1,540). Measurements Blood pressure, Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE), basic activities of daily living (ADLs), and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) were assessed. Associations between BP measures and MMSE score were first analyzed in the total population using linear regression models and were then further examined according to strata of age, ADLs, and IADLs. All analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic factors and presence of comorbidities. Results In the total population, higher systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), pulse pressure (PP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were all associated with higher MMSE score (all P