Hypertension in the Elderly

Abstract

Isolated Systolic Hypertension (ISH) increases in frequency with age and was generally defined as a systolic blood pressure (BP) above 160 mmHg, with a diastolic BP below 90 mmHg; however a systolic pressure of 140 mmHg is now regarded as the upper limit of normal at all ages. In the elderly, systolic blood pressure is more strongly related with cardiovascular complications — especially stroke, ischaemic heart disease, heart failure, end-stage renal disease, and all-cause mortality. Treatment of isolated systolic hypertension or systolic/diastolic hypertension in elderly patients is associated with a reduction in adverse coronary outcomes.