Hypertension in the Elderly

Abstract

Several studies have demonstrated an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in relation to high blood pressure in elderly patients aged below 70-75, whereas the risk seemed to decline with age in the older elderly.

Early studies on the effect of treatment of mild to moderate hypertension in the elderly indicated (but did not convincingly show) a reduction of CVD. In the 1980s, both the EWPHE trial (European Working Party on High Blood Pressure in the Elderly) and the HEP study (The Randomised Trial of the Treatment of Hypertension in Elderly Patients in Primary Care) provided evidence of the benefit of treating high blood pressure in the elderly, at least up to the age of 70-74. These results have lately been confirmed by three major trials SHEP (Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program), STOP (Swedish Trial in Old Patients with Hypertension) and MRC (Medical Research Council), also including older patients (STOP) and those with isolated systolic hypertension (SHEP). This satisfactory effect was not impaired by a low tolerability of the drugs used (β-blockers and diuretics).

In conclusion, drug treatment with β-blockers and diuretics in hypertensive men and women aged 70 and above confers highly significant and clinically relevant reductions in cardiovascular (especially stroke) morbidity and mortality. The clinical implication of this is that blood pressure lowering therapy should be considered in elderly hypertensives, at least up until they are 80. It should also be remembered that elderly hypertensives often have other diseases as well and that the drug treatment should be adjusted accordingly.

Key Words:

• adverse effects
• aged
• drug therapy
• hypertension
• cardiovascular diseases