Open AccessHypertension in the elderly: Are we all on the same wavelength?
Author(s) -
Sadip Pant,
Pritam Neupane,
Khatri Chhetri Ramesh,
Murari Prasad Barakoti
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
world journal of cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1949-8462
DOI - 10.4330/wjc.v3.i8.263
Subject(s) - medicine , left ventricular hypertrophy , blood pressure , stroke (engine) , cardiology , myocardial infarction , isolated systolic hypertension , population , intensive care medicine , mechanical engineering , environmental health , engineering
Hypertension is of frequent occurrence in the elderly population. Isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) accounts for the majority of cases of hypertension in the elderly. ISH is associated with a 2-4-fold increase in the risk of myocardial infarction, left ventricular hypertrophy, renal dysfunction, stroke, and cardiovascular mortality. There have been many studies to determine the optimal treatment for hypertension in the elderly. Why, when and how to treat hypertension in the elderly was the scope of the majority of these trials. Despite countless efforts many aspects remain obscure. While a number of novel drugs are being developed, the issue of whether all antihypertensive drugs bestow parallel benefits or whether some agents offer a therapeutic advantage beyond blood pressure control remains of crucial importance. Furthermore, the response of the elderly to different antihypertensive agents also differs from that of younger patients and may explain some of the disparities in outcomes of trials conducted in elderly patients with hypertension.