Hypertension in the very elderly

Abstract

The world population is aging and disorders that are more prevalent in the elderly are of increasing importance. Hypertension falls into this category and has been linked to many adverse outcomes from stroke to mortality and dementia. Antihypertensive treatment has been shown to be successful in younger age groups but in those aged 80 years and over its benefits are not yet proven, and the risks and benefits of hypertension and antihypertensive treatment are unclear. Given this, it is useful to examine hypertension in the very elderly, the epidemiology, the likely impact of hypertension in this population, both physical and mental, and the as yet unclear issue of treatment. An ongoing, randomized, controlled trial in this age group will aid resolution of these issues and our understanding of this very elderly group.