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Hypertension in the elderly patient

C Ryan1

  • 1San Francisco Heart Institute, Daly City, CA 94015.

American Heart Journal
|October 1, 1991
PubMed

Insights

Treating hypertension in elderly individuals significantly lowers cardiovascular disease and stroke risks. Ongoing trials like SHEP and STH aim to further clarify treatment benefits for isolated systolic hypertension in older adults.

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Clinical Trials

Background:

  • Elderly individuals with hypertension face increased risks of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
  • Diastolic hypertension treatment in the elderly shows reduced cardiovascular morbidity.
  • Isolated systolic hypertension in older adults is strongly linked to stroke and cardiovascular mortality.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the impact of hypertension treatment on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular outcomes in the elderly.
  • To highlight the unique mechanisms of hypertension in older populations, such as peripheral vascular resistance.
  • To discuss ongoing research, including the Systolic Hypertension European trial and the Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Patient trial.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing clinical trial data on hypertension treatment in elderly patients.
  • Analysis of the relationship between isolated systolic hypertension and adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events.
  • Discussion of the physiological mechanisms underlying hypertension in the elderly.

Main Results:

  • Treatment of diastolic hypertension in the elderly reduces cardiovascular morbidity.
  • Treatment in the Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Patient pilot trial reduced stroke morbidity and mortality.
  • Isolated systolic hypertension presents a significant risk for stroke and cardiovascular disease in older adults.

Conclusions:

  • Hypertension management is crucial for reducing morbidity and mortality in elderly patients.
  • Further research from ongoing trials is needed to fully understand the treatment of isolated systolic hypertension in this population.
  • Peripheral vascular resistance is a key factor in elderly hypertension, and exercise may help reduce it.

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