The Problem of Hypertension in the Elderly

Since most developed countries have an ageing population, the prevalence of hypertension is increasing. This age-driven increase in cardiovascular risk is an important factor contributing to the increasing burden of mortality and morbidity associated with cardiovascular disease. Today, there is a strong rationale for an aggressive approach to hypertension since antihypertensive treatment has been shown to reduce cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in the elderly. It is likely that increasing emphasis will be placed on control of isolated and borderline systolic hypertension, which are the predominant forms of hypertension in elderly patients. The recent second Swedish Trial in Old Patients with Hypertension (STOP-Hypertension-2) represents an important contribution to the literature since it shows that newer antihypertensive agents, such as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and calcium antagonists, are as effective as older agents in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in elderly patients.