[Beta-blockers in the treatment of hypertension in elderly patients]

The authors investigated the effectiveness of treatment of hypertension by monotherapy with beta-blockers--bopindolol (a beta-blocker with a slightly expressed ISA) and metoprolol (cardioselective beta-blocker) in 86 subjects with mild and medium severe hypertension. The purpose of the work was to analyze the effectiveness of control of hypertension in relation to age and to compare groups of subjects under 40 years with patients above 60 years of age. Both investigated beta-blockers proved effective in 80% of subjects above 60 years in the control of hypertension; no serious side-effects were recorded.