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Elderly hypertensives: how are they different?

Stanley S Franklin1

  • 1Heart Disease Prevention Program, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA. ssfranklinmd@earthlink.net

Journal of Clinical Hypertension (Greenwich, Conn.)
|November 7, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Isolated systolic hypertension, common in older adults, stems from stiff arteries and increases vascular event risk. This review details its unique characteristics compared to younger adults.

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Hypertension Research

Background:

  • Isolated systolic hypertension is a prevalent hypertensive subtype in middle-aged and elderly individuals.
  • It is characterized by increased elastic artery stiffness, a significant factor in aging.
  • This condition elevates the risk of major vascular events, including stroke, heart failure, and dementia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To delineate the distinctions between hypertension in the elderly and essential hypertension in younger adults.
  • To emphasize the role of increased arterial stiffness in the elderly hypertensive population.

Main Methods:

  • This is a review article.
  • It synthesizes existing literature on isolated systolic hypertension in the elderly.

Main Results:

  • Isolated systolic hypertension is a late manifestation of arterial stiffness.
  • Arterial stiffness significantly influences the clinical presentation and progression of hypertension in older individuals.

Conclusions:

  • Hypertension in the elderly, particularly isolated systolic hypertension, presents unique pathophysiological and clinical features driven by arterial stiffness.
  • Understanding these differences is crucial for effective management and risk reduction of vascular events in this demographic.

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