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[Hypertension in the aged: how to assess it?]
1Departement Innere Medizin, Medizinische Poliklinik, Universitätsspital Zürich.
Schweizerische Rundschau Fur Medizin Praxis = Revue Suisse De Medecine Praxis
|June 18, 1991
Summary
Evaluating elderly hypertensive patients requires careful attention to repeated blood pressure measurements, orthostatic assessments, and carotid auscultation. Suspect renal arterial stenosis for rapid-onset hypertension and pseudohypertension from generalized arteriosclerosis.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Cardiovascular Health
- Hypertension Management
Context:
- Elderly patients present unique challenges in hypertension evaluation.
- Standard diagnostic procedures require modification for this demographic.
- Accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective antihypertensive therapy.
Purpose:
- To outline essential diagnostic steps for hypertension in the elderly.
- To highlight specific considerations for evaluating older hypertensive individuals.
- To guide clinicians in identifying potential causes of difficult-to-manage hypertension.
Summary:
- Emphasizes repeated blood pressure measurements and orthostatic assessments.
- Recommends carotid auscultation and Doppler ultrasound for suspected stenosis.
- Discusses pseudohypertension due to arteriosclerosis and renal arterial stenosis.
Impact:
- Improves diagnostic accuracy in elderly hypertensive patients.
- Facilitates timely and appropriate treatment decisions.
- Reduces risks associated with misdiagnosis and ineffective therapy.