Hypertension in the elderly.

Cardiovascular disease in all its clinical manifestations progresses significantly as age advances and takes its heaviest toll in the elderly. Hypertension becomes the dominant risk factor for cardiovascular disease in this age group because of its high incidence. Traditionally, diastolic rather than systolic blood pressure has been regarded as the main risk factor for cardiovascular complications in hypertension, although it is becoming clearer that the risk of cardiovascular complications is likely to be associated mainly with systolic pressure in the elderly. Various intervention drug trials in elderly patients seem to indicate that hypotensive drug treatment can decrease cardiovascular mortality, mainly by decreasing cerebrovascular mortality. The EWPHE used a diuretic combination with methyldopa, and the HEP study used atenolol with a thiazide diuretic. The multicenter Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEPS) currently underway in the United States is likely to also provide some answers. The place of newer agents such as ACE inhibitors or calcium antagonists is still undetermined. Calcium antagonist drugs have been reported to be effective, and possibly more so in the elderly than in a younger population, although this assumption is not proven and may not be valid. Pharmacokinetic studies in the elderly are very few, although the studies reported indicate a reduced clearance. Studies also indicate that Nifedipine Retard tablets are effective, with a low incidence of adverse effects. There are no trials, however, looking at the long-term benefit of treating elderly hypertensive patients with either nifedipine tablets or other calcium-channel blockers.