Hypertension in Elderly Patients

According to major studies, hypertension is found in over half the population aged 65 years or over. In this age group, systolic blood pressure is at least as important as diastolic blood pressure as a predictor of cardiovascular mortality. Although the basic etiology of systolic hypertension is not clear, a number of mechanisms appear to contribute to this form of hypertension (changes in compliance of large arteries, decreased baroreceptor sensitivity, increased responsiveness to sympathetic nervous system stimuli, altered renal, sodium metabolism and reninangiotensin-aldosteron relations). In addition to the epidemiology and pathophysiology, the use of various antihypertensive agents in elderly patients is reviewed.