INTRODUCTION Objective: (i) To assess quality of life (QoL) profilesIn 1990, geriatrics (aged 65 years and above) accounted in hypertensive geriatrics with SF-36; (ii) to assess for only 1 in every 25 Americans (3·1 million). By 1994 the compliance of geriatrics to medications; (iii) to this figure had risen to 1 in 8 Americans (33·2 million). estimate clinical outcomes (reduction in systolic andIt is projected that there will be 80 million (apdiastolic blood pressure); (iv) to assess life satisproximately 1 in 5) elderly people in the U.S.A. in the faction and (v) to explore the interrelationships of year 2050 (1). By the year 2030, spending on medications QoL, compliance, clinical outcomes and life satisfor elderly people may reach 35-45% of the total nafaction in hypertensive geriatrics.tional expenditure in the U.S.A. Elderly people receive Method: Fifty-nine hypertensive geriatric patients on average nearly five medications at any given time. in cardiology and 65 Plus clinics in West VirginiaElderly people visit physicians more frequently and for Hospitals were studied. each visit more prescriptions for medications are writ-Results: Age showed a significant negative corten than average. Thus the resulting 'polymedicine' relation with physical functioning (r=0·339, (visiting multiple physicians) and 'polypharmacy' (con-PΖ0·0127) and physical role (r=0·335, PΖ0·0148). sulting many pharmacists on prescriptions and over-The physical role facet of SF-36 is correlated with the-counter (OTC) medications) may affect the quality life satisfaction in geriatrics (r=0·316, PΖ0·0219).