Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly

Isolated systolic hypertension (systolic blood pressure of 160 mm Hg or greater, diastolic blood pressure less than 90) was investigated in the Leisure World population at Seal Beach, California. The prevalence of this condition was 13.9% if the blood pressure at the initial examination was used but dropped to 2.7% if the subsequent two determinations of blood pressure were also reviewed. Seventy-two of the subjects with persistent systolic hypertension were compared with 72 matched normotensive control subjects. Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality were generally more frequent among subjects with systolic hypertension. That this association is causal has yet to be proven. In this elderly population isolated systolic hypertension was a labile, relatively infrequent condition associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular complications.