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The hypertensive patient. Not just a number
1Department of Preventive Medicine, UTCHS College of Medicine, Memphis, TN 38105.
Postgraduate Medicine
|July 1, 1992
Summary
Treating hypertension in older adults reduces cardiovascular events. However, current strategies require treating many to benefit a few, necessitating better risk-based targeting for effective primary prevention.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Hypertension treatment in elderly patients (over 65) reduces cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
- Studies like EWP-HBP and SHTEP demonstrate significant event reduction but highlight the need for improved targeting.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of hypertension treatment in reducing cardiovascular events in the elderly.
- To identify the need for enhanced strategies in primary prevention for this demographic.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from large-scale clinical trials on hypertension in the elderly.
- Assessment of cardiovascular event rates in treated versus untreated groups.
Main Results:
- Significant reductions in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality were observed in treated elderly hypertensive patients.
- Event prevention rates varied between studies (29/1,000 person-years in EWP-HBP, 55/1,000 person-years in SHTEP).
Conclusions:
- While beneficial, current hypertension treatment in the elderly necessitates treating a large population for a modest number of benefits.
- Development of targeted treatment strategies based on comprehensive risk assessment is crucial for optimizing primary prevention in older adults.