[Incidence of arterial hypertension in French population after 60 years]

To evaluate incidence and determinants of arterial hypertension after 60 years.

Four thousand nine hundred and forty one subjects aged 60 years or above (2505 men: 64.2±4.2 years; 2436 women: 64.8±4.3 years) were explored two times at the IPC center, Paris, between 1992 and 2007, and were normotensive at the first visit (V1): systolic BP (SBP) less than 140mmHg and diastolic BP (DBP) less than 90mmHg without treatment. The delay between the two visits was 5.8±2.2 years. At the second visit, population was analysed as normotensives and hypertensives. An age-adjusted Anova compared groups.

In men, incidence of hypertension is 41.5% and 25.9% for isolated systolic hypertension. In women, incidences were 37.8% and 27.8% respectively. Baseline characteristics for V2-hypertensives showed higher SBP, DBP, BMI, heart rate, glycemia, ECG abnormalities thanV2-normotensives but they had lower physical activity. The determinants of hypertension were: SBP, age, BMI, DBP, glycemia, and lack of physical activity for this age class.

From 60 years old, 6-year incidence of hypertension is about 40% and 26% for isolated systolic hypertension, this latter being higher in women. Regular physical activity is protective.