Hypertension In The Elderly.

Cardiovascular disease is still the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly and hypertension is a significant risk factor for CVD such as stroke, myocardial infarction, and chronic renal disease. Fortunately, hypertension is readily treatable. A clear benefit from treating elevated blood pressure has been demonstrated by several clinical trials. In fact, benefit from treatment of either systolic or diastolic hypertension in this group is much greater than in younger hypertensives. Understanding physiologic and socioeconomic changes with age is an essential part of treatment and will allow for individualized treatment suitable for the elderly. Life-syle modification is a good starting point to control high blood pressure but should not be enforced unrealistically in this group. Once pharmacologic therapy is decided upon it should be started with a lower dose than usual and should be slowly titrated. Monotherapies and combination therapies are available for treatment of hypertension. All clinicians who take care of the geriatric population should be aware of the benefit of antihypertensive therapy since this is one of the most rewarding aspects of preventive medicine.