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The aging hypertensive heart: a brief update

Dinko Susic1, Edward D Frohlich

  • 1Division of Research, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, LA 70121, USA. dsusic@ochsner.org

Nature Clinical Practice. Cardiovascular Medicine
|January 29, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Aging and hypertension are key risks for cardiovascular disease. Both conditions cause similar heart changes like hypertrophy and dysfunction, increasing morbidity and mortality.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Gerontology
  • Hypertension Research

Background:

  • Aging and hypertension are independent, significant risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
  • These conditions share overlapping pathophysiological mechanisms and cardiovascular effects.
  • Understanding their combined impact is crucial for clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the pathophysiology of cardiovascular aging and hypertension.
  • To describe the clinical and therapeutic implications of their combined effects.
  • To highlight shared cardiovascular changes induced by aging and hypertension.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on cardiovascular aging and hypertension.
  • Analysis of morphologic and functional changes in the cardiovascular system.
  • Examination of clinical and therapeutic data related to combined aging and hypertension.

Main Results:

  • Cardiovascular aging and hypertension independently contribute to increased cardiovascular risk.
  • Both conditions lead to similar structural and functional heart changes, including left ventricular hypertrophy, fibrosis, and dysfunction.
  • The combined effect exacerbates cardiovascular damage and adverse outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Aging and hypertension synergistically worsen cardiovascular health.
  • Therapeutic strategies must consider the dual burden of aging and hypertension.
  • Further research is needed to optimize interventions for this patient population.

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