COVID-19 Pandemic Affects Blood Pressure Monitoring and Medication Use in US Nursing Homes

Strategic Insights -

A new study by researchers at Brown University School of Public Health has found significant changes in blood pressure monitoring and medication use among nursing home residents with and without dementia before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, analyzed data from over 141,000 nursing home residents with hypertension treated with antihypertensive medications from 2018 to 2022. The researchers found that after the onset of the pandemic, there was an increase in blood pressure monitoring among residents with dementia, with 1.6 readings per day pre-COVID-19 versus 1.9 readings per day post-COVID-19. However, residents with severe dementia had a higher prevalence of hypotension compared to those without dementia. The study suggests that there may be opportunities for deprescribing to balance blood pressure control and medication, while also reducing monitoring burden in nursing homes.

Key Takeaways:

  • Researchers analyzed data from 141,630 nursing home residents with hypertension treated with antihypertensive medications from 2018 to 2022.
  • The study found an increase in blood pressure monitoring among residents with dementia after the onset of the pandemic, with 1.6 readings per day pre-COVID-19 versus 1.9 readings per day post-COVID-19.
  • Residents with severe dementia had a higher prevalence of hypotension compared to those without dementia, with 16.3% vs 8.9% having at least one systolic blood pressure of less than 90 mmHg.
  • The study suggests that there may be opportunities for deprescribing to balance blood pressure control and medication, while also reducing monitoring burden in nursing homes.
  • The study highlights the importance of considering dementia status and pre- and post-pandemic periods when evaluating hypertension management practices in nursing homes.

Statistics:

  • Over 141,630 nursing home residents with hypertension treated with antihypertensive medications were included in the study.
  • Blood pressure monitoring increased from 1.6 readings per day pre-COVID-19 to 1.9 readings per day post-COVID-19 among residents with dementia.
  • Residents with severe dementia had a higher prevalence of hypotension, with 16.3% having at least one systolic blood pressure of less than 90 mmHg compared to 8.9% of those without dementia.
  • The study used a retrospective cohort study design with data from January 2, 2018, to July 3, 2022.
  • The median age of the participants was not reported, but the researchers controlled for demographics and comorbidities in the analysis.

Sources:

  • Zhang, S., Zullo, A. R., Mor, V., Berry, S. D., Grove, L. R., Oganisian, A., & Hayes, K. N. (2025). Hypertension treatment, blood pressure, and deprescribing among US nursing home residents with and without dementia before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 105883.
  • Mental Health Weekly Digest. (2025, October 13). Researchers at Brown University School of Public Health Describe Findings in COVID-19 (Hypertension Treatment, Blood Pressure, and Deprescribing Among US Nursing Home Residents With and Without Dementia Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic).