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[The treatment of arterial hypertension in elderly men in Iceland]

V Sigurdardottir, B Einarsson, N Sigfusson

    Laeknabladid
    |May 20, 2011
    PubMed

    Insights

    Hypertension affects about 50% of elderly Icelandic men. Diuretics were found to be more effective than beta-blockers for lowering systolic blood pressure in this population.

    Area of Science:

    • Cardiology
    • Geriatrics
    • Pharmacology

    Context:

    • Investigating antihypertensive therapy choices in elderly Icelandic men (aged 70-84).
    • Utilizing data from the Icelandic Heart Association database.
    • Assessing hypertension prevalence and treatment patterns in a specific demographic.

    Purpose:

    • To determine the prevalence of hypertension in elderly Icelandic men.
    • To analyze current antihypertensive medication usage and combinations.
    • To evaluate the comparative effectiveness of different drug classes.

    Summary:

    • Approximately 50% of elderly Icelandic men exhibit hypertension.
    • Diuretics and beta-blockers are the most common antihypertensive drug classes used.
    • Diuretics showed a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure compared to beta-blockers in an uncontrolled analysis.
    • Common drug combinations include beta-blockers with diuretics, ACE inhibitors with diuretics, and beta-blockers with calcium channel blockers.

    Impact:

    • Suggests increasing the use of diuretics for hypertension management in elderly men.
    • Highlights the need for further controlled studies on antihypertensive drug efficacy in this age group.
    • Provides insights into current prescribing practices for hypertension in Iceland.

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