Management of Hypertension in Older People

Abstract

Hypertension affects 30–50' of older people. It is an important reversible risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Multiple large intervention trials have established the efficacy of treating hypertension in people up to the age of 80. However, there is scant and discordant data regarding the benefits of treating hypertension in the very old. Hypertension in the elderly is characterised by specific pathophysiology that must be taken into account when devising a management plan.