Peer Reviewed
Feature Article Geriatrics
Why bother treating hypertension in the elderly?
Recent articles on:
Hypertension
Hypertension
Recent articles on:
Seniors' health
Seniors' health
Abstract
GPs often see elderly patients who are hypertensive. Why do the elderly become hypertensive, are there benefits in treating these patients and which treatment does the recent evidence suggest you should use? This article discusses these points.
Key Points
- There is good evidence that treating hypertension in the elderly will reduce significantly morbidity and mortality.
- Most elderly patients will have essential hypertension, but other causes must be considered and basic investigations performed.
- Isolated systolic hypertension is the most common type of hypertension in the elderly and is best treated with diuretics, ACE inhibitors or calcium antagonists.
- Patients’ comorbidities must be considered when antihypertensive medications are chosen.
- The minimum aim of antihypertensive treatment in the elderly should be to reduce blood pressure to 160/90 mmHg, but the lower the better.
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