Related Experiment Videos

[Intervention trials for elderly hypertension in Western countries]

Hiromi Rakugi1, Toshio Ogihara

  • 1Department of Geriatric Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine.

Nihon Rinsho. Japanese Journal of Clinical Medicine
|June 14, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Treatment for elderly hypertension is essential, but benefits for mild cases and the very elderly remain unclear. The ongoing Hypertension in the Very Elderly Trial (HYVET) aims to resolve these questions for older adults.

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Clinical Trials

Context:

  • Large-scale trials confirm hypertension treatment necessity in Western elderly, including isolated systolic hypertension.
  • Uncertainty remains regarding antihypertensive treatment benefits in mild hypertension and in the very elderly population.
  • Existing studies lack data on target blood pressure below 140 mmHg systolic.

Purpose:

  • To evaluate the benefit of antihypertensive treatment in very elderly patients with hypertension.
  • To clarify the efficacy of current first-line antihypertensive drugs in older adults.
  • To address unresolved questions in elderly hypertension management through large-scale trials.

Summary:

  • The Hypertension in the Very Elderly Trial (HYVET) is investigating the benefits of treating hypertension in individuals over 80.
  • Diuretics and calcium channel blockers are established first-line treatments for elderly hypertension.
  • Inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin system also show promise in this demographic.

Impact:

  • Findings will guide clinical practice for hypertension management in the very elderly.
  • This research may establish new treatment guidelines for a vulnerable patient group.
  • Results will inform future large-scale clinical trials in geriatric hypertension.

Related Concept Videos

Hypertension IV: Drug Therapy and Lifestyle Modifications01:28

Hypertension IV: Drug Therapy and Lifestyle Modifications

Multiple classes of antihypertensive medications are employed in treating hypertension. The most commonly recommended first-line treatments include:Thiazide Diuretics, such as chlorthalidone, increase sodium and water excretion from the body, reducing blood volume and blood pressure.Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, like lisinopril, block the conversion of angiotensin I to II, a potent vasoconstrictor lowering blood pressure.Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs) prevent angiotensin II...
Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:30

Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

Hypertension is asymptomatic and also referred to as the "silent killer" until it progresses to a severe stage or causes target organ disease. Patients may experience symptoms stemming from the strain on blood vessels and tissues in various organs or the heart's increased workload.Physical exams might show no abnormalities other than high blood pressure. Signs of vascular damage, when present, correspond to the organs supplied by the affected vessels, leading to target organ damage. For...
Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients01:15

Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients

Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System01:26

Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System

The activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) contributes to cardiac remodeling, and inhibiting the RAAS is a pharmacological target in heart failure management. As a result, neurohumoral modulation is a crucial treatment principle for managing heart failure. This approach involves using medications like ACE inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), β-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), and neutral...
Hypertension V: Nursing Management01:23

Hypertension V: Nursing Management

The nursing management of hypertension involves accurately assessing symptoms, making a comprehensive nursing diagnosis, collaborating with patients to set goals, and implementing targeted interventions to mitigate the condition's impact and improve patient well-being.Comprehensive AssessmentThe initial step in nursing care for hypertension involves a thorough patient assessment. It includes evaluating symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, and previous hypertension episodes.
Heart Failure VI: Adjunct Therapies01:22

Heart Failure VI: Adjunct Therapies

Additional therapies for treating patients with heart failure (HF) may include procedural interventions, supplemental oxygen, the management of sleep disorders, and nutritional therapy.Procedural InterventionsImplantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator: For patients at risk of life-threatening arrhythmias due to severe left ventricular dysfunction, an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) can detect and terminate these arrhythmias, preventing sudden cardiac death and improving survival rates.