[Special features of pharmacotherapy in older hypertensive subjects]

The prevalence of arterial hypertension in Germany is 60-80% in individuals between 65 and 74 years of age. In older people there is also a positive correlation between blood pressure level and rise in mortality due to myocardial infarction and stroke. Antihypertensive therapy can considerably improve the prognosis of older hypertensive individuals. Treatment is of enormous importance in these patients, particularly for prevention of strokes, which will continue to increase in the future as a result of demographic trends. Older patients have an elevated risk of developing undesirable drug reactions while under therapy such as a drop in blood pressure in an erect/standing position. Taking into account individual risk factors for unwanted events and avoidance of drug interactions during polypharmacotherapy are important aspects in differential therapy with antihypertensive agents in the elderly.