Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 25, 2026
05:57
Author Spotlight: Exploring Huotan Jiedu Tongluo Decoction as an Antihypertensive Drug
Published on: May 17, 2024
1.3K
Managing Hypertension in the Elderly: What is Different, What is the Same?
1Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, New York Medical College/Westchester Medical Center, Macy Pavilion, Room 141, Valhalla, NY, 10595, USA. wsaronow@aol.com.
Current Hypertension Reports
|July 30, 2017
Summary
Intensive blood pressure management in elderly adults significantly reduced cardiovascular events and mortality. Lowering systolic blood pressure to below 120 mmHg proved safe and effective in the SPRINT trial.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- Hypertension management in the elderly is complex.
- Previous guidelines suggested less intensive targets for older adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the management of hypertension in elderly individuals.
- To present findings from the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) relevant to elderly hypertension.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the SPRINT trial data involving 2636 participants aged 75 years and older.
- Comparison of a systolic blood pressure goal of <120 mmHg versus <140 mmHg.
Main Results:
- Intensive treatment (SBP <120 mmHg) reduced major cardiovascular events by 34% and all-cause mortality by 33%.
- Heart failure incidence decreased by 38% with intensive treatment.
- Adverse event rates were comparable between intensive and standard treatment groups.
Conclusions:
- Lowering systolic blood pressure to <120 mmHg is effective and safe for elderly individuals with hypertension.
- Intensive blood pressure management benefits even frail elderly individuals.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Hypertension V: Nursing Management
532
The nursing management of hypertension involves accurately assessing symptoms, making a comprehensive nursing diagnosis, collaborating with patients to set goals, and implementing targeted interventions to mitigate the condition's impact and improve patient well-being.Comprehensive AssessmentThe initial step in nursing care for hypertension involves a thorough patient assessment. It includes evaluating symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, and previous hypertension episodes.
532
01:15Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
321
Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
321
01:27Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
278
Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
278
01:30Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
667
Hypertension is asymptomatic and also referred to as the "silent killer" until it progresses to a severe stage or causes target organ disease. Patients may experience symptoms stemming from the strain on blood vessels and tissues in various organs or the heart's increased workload.Physical exams might show no abnormalities other than high blood pressure. Signs of vascular damage, when present, correspond to the organs supplied by the affected vessels, leading to target organ damage. For...
667
01:28Hypertension I: Introduction
1.0K
Hypertension is a widespread, long-term medical condition where blood pressure in the arteries remains elevated. It is characterized by systolic blood pressure readings of 130 mm Hg or above or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) readings of 80 mm Hg or higher. Unmanaged hypertension poses significant health risks, making the distinction between primary (or essential) hypertension and secondary hypertension crucial, as their management and implications vary.Primary HypertensionPrimary hypertension,...
1.0K
01:00Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Distribution
298
Drug distribution in the human body is influenced by several factors, including plasma protein concentration, body composition, blood flow, tissue-protein concentration, and tissue fluid pH. Among these, changes in plasma protein concentration and body composition due to aging significantly affect how drugs are distributed within the body. Specifically, aging is associated with a decrease in albumin levels by about 10% and an increase in α1-acid glycoprotein levels. These alterations are...
298