[Arterial hypertension as a medical and social problem in the older urban population. The CINDI WHO Program study].

Increasing lifespan and progressive aging of the Polish population results in rising demands on health care. Chronic diseases with a leading position of arterial hypertension (HA) prevail in morbidity rates of adult seniors. The aim of the study is to characterize hypertension in the elderly with regard to other risk factors, complications and therapeutic control. The study was carried out in 2002 within the framework of the CINDI WHO Programme. A total of 1460 persons were randomly selected among residents of Lodz aged > or = 65 years. The response rate was 57%. All participants underwent questionnaire interview, two blood pressure (BP) measurements, anthropometric and physical examination, ECG and laboratory tests. After final verification, we analysed data collected from 828 persons (289 men and 539 women). Mean values of systolic and diastolic BP were 147.6 and 83.6 mmHg, respectively. The increase of systolic BP with age of studied seniors was observed. Hypertension was diagnosed in 669 persons (79% men, 82% women). In most cases there were systolic-diastolic or isolated systolic hypertension. About 60% of seniors with elevated BP declared suffering from HA, while 73% were under antihypertensive treatment. Normalization of BP (< 140/ 90 mmHg) was achieved in 28% of treated patients. Most often prescribed medications were: ACE-inhibitors (51%), beta-blockers (40%), calcium channel blockers (31%) and diuretics (30%). Mean values of plasma lipids and prevalence of lipid disorders were comparable in hypertensive and normotensive persons. Among patients with HA there were significantly smaller percentage of smokers (8.6% vs 18.7%, p < 0.05). The prevalence of obesity, visceral obesity and metabolic syndrome was higher in hypertensive seniors. As a result, incidents of myocardial infarction and morbidity due to coronary artery disease were twice as cantly more often hospitalised and visited family doctors (7 vs 4.6 visits/year) in comparison to normotensive subjects.