Blood pressure in the elderly is poorly controlled

Filed in archive Treatment on July 26, 2005

It seems that hypertension continues to be poorly controlled in the elderly:

Three out of four Americans aged 80 or older have high blood pressure but most do not get adequate treatment, exposing them to a risk of heart attack or stroke, researchers said on Tuesday . . .

They found 74 percent of people aged 80 and older had high blood pressure, compared with 63 percent of those aged 60 to 79 and 27 percent of those younger than 60. Yet less than two-thirds of the people in the two older age groups received treatment for their conditions.

Hypertension is defined as systolic blood pressure of at least 140 mm Hg and diastolic pressure of at least 90 mm Hg. Normal is less than 120 mm Hg and 80 mm Hg.

Studies have shown that elderly hypertensives should be actively treated - benefit has been shown in patients through their mid-80's. The risk of stroke, coronary disease, and dementia can all be decreased with appropriate blood pressure control.

Like in younger patients, treatment of blood pressure can be started with a thiazide diuretic in the uncomplicated elderly patient. Other advantages of this class of medication includes a lower cost and a reduction or urinary calcium excretion, which can possibly lead to a decreased rate of bone loss.

So if your blood pressure continues to be elevated, talk to your doctor - no matter how old you are. ("High blood pressure not often treated in elderly", Reuters, Jul.26)