The treatment of elderly hypertensive patients.
Treatment of hypertension in the elderly has hitherto been considered to be potentially dangerous. Three recent studies have clearly shown that in selected elderly hypertensives, blood pressure reduction very effectively reduces cardiovascular complications without causing unacceptable adverse effects. The impact on non-fatal stroke was most striking although a reduction in coronary events was also achieved. Thiazide diuretics were used in all three trials, and beta-blockers were used in two. Thiazide diuretics had a major beneficial effect. In this review the applicability of these results to the whole unselected population of elderly hypertensives is considered, and the choice of therapy in different subgroups of patients discussed.
Kendall
M J
MJ
Department of Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, U.K.
Tse
W Y
WY
Head
A
A
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001581:Benzothiadiazines; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004232:Diuretics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001581:Benzothiadiazines; D004232:Diuretics; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors