Age-related changes in blood pressure.

This report is based on three different representative population samples of a total of 1304 men (50-79 years old) and 1246 women (38-79 years old) observed for up to 12 years. Subjects' consumption of antihypertensive drugs and blood pressure levels in subjects with and without such treatment are presented. The prevalence of treatment with antihypertensive drugs (including beta-blockers and diuretics for other indications) increased from 2% at age 50 years to 37% at 79 years of age among the men and from 1% at 38 years to 61% at 79 years of age among the women. The mean systolic/diastolic blood pressure in untreated subjects increased from 138/91 mm Hg at age 50 years to 159/91 mm Hg at age 70 years in the men and from 123/79 mm Hg at age 38 years to 168/93 mm Hg at age 70 years in the women. At age 79 years the mean systolic/diastolic blood pressure was 155/83 mm Hg in the men and 161/85 mm Hg in the women. In a longitudinal follow-up of reexamined subjects, there was an increase in systolic blood pressure levels up to age 75 years and a reduction in diastolic blood pressure after age 75 years in both sexes.