[Therapy of hypertension in the elderly: Fosinopril in Old Patients Study (FOPS)].

The necessity for a persistent antihypertensive treatment in elderly persons has not been proven until the beginning nineties. An adequate reduction of blood pressure is required also in high age for prevention of cardiovascular accidents. A study is presented which investigates efficacy and tolerance of the ACE-inhibitor fosinopril in an unselected cohort of hypertensive outpatients older than 60 years over 12 weeks. Diastolic hypertension (DBP > or = 96-110 mm Hg) and isolated systolic hypertension (SBP > or = 160-219 mm Hg, DBP 80-94 mm Hg) were analyzed separately. Blood pressure values in both groups were normalized in more than 80% of the patients. In the case of insufficient response an additional dose of 12.5 mg hydrochlorochiazide was somewhat more effective than doubling the dose of the ACE-inhibitor. Efficacy and side effects of the antihypertensive treatment with fosinopril in this study were not dependent on the degree of impaired renal function.