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Prevalence, pathophysiology and treatment of isolated systolic hypertension in the elderly

Lutgarde Thijs1, Elly Den Hond, Tim Nawrot

  • 1Departement voor Moleculair en Cardiovasculair Onderzoek, University of Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Lutgarde.Thijs@med.kuleuven.ac.be

Expert Review of Cardiovascular Therapy
|September 8, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Isolated systolic hypertension is common in older adults and linked to heart issues. Treating it pharmacologically improves outcomes, yet it often remains uncontrolled.

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Internal Medicine

Background:

  • Isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) is the most common hypertension subtype in the elderly.
  • ISH significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular complications, including stroke, coronary heart disease, and heart failure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the pathogenesis of ISH, focusing on arterial stiffness, endothelial function, atherosclerosis, and oxidative stress.
  • To discuss the evidence supporting pharmacological treatment of ISH in older adults.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of placebo-controlled intervention trials.
  • Analysis of studies investigating the mechanisms underlying ISH.

Main Results:

  • Pharmacological treatment of ISH has been shown to improve cardiovascular outcomes in elderly populations.
  • Despite proven benefits, ISH remains a prevalent form of untreated and uncontrolled hypertension.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding the pathogenesis of ISH is crucial for effective management.
  • Improved treatment strategies and adherence are needed to address the high prevalence of uncontrolled ISH in the elderly.

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