Insulin resistance and hypertension in the elderly. Optimal drug therapy.

Numerous trials have demonstrated the negative effects of some antihypertensive drugs upon glucose handling. Such findings seem particularly interesting in aged hypertensive patients who are also insulin resistant and affected by physiological changes in the renal and cardiovascular systems. It appears that calcium channel blockers and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are the most appropriate drugs to lower blood pressure in aged insulin-resistant hypertensive patients. All calcium channel blockers studied have displayed similar metabolic effects, while among the ACE inhibitors studied, lisinopril was associated with the best metabolic responses. beta-Blockers and thiazide diuretics have strong negative effects on glucose handling. Further studies are needed in order to investigate the metabolic effects of alpha 1-antagonists in aged patients with insulin resistance and hypertension.