Management of hypertension for stroke prevention in older people.
It is no longer acceptable to attribute elevated blood pressure in elderly people to the natural processes of aging and thereby withhold treatment. Sound evidence demonstrates increased risk of cardiovascular disease with increasing levels of blood pressure and decreased incidence of cardiovascular disease with blood pressure control. Hypertension is known to be the most modifiable risk factor for stroke. Given projected demographic shifts in the population, the number of older Americans with hypertension and increased risk of morbidity and mortality from stroke will grow during the first part of the next century. Health care providers should familiarize themselves with the unique pathophysiology of hypertension in elderly people, and integrate appropriate approaches to comprehensive evaluation and management into practice.
Laird
R D
RD
Department of Medicine and the Center on Aging, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas 66160, USA.
Studenski
S S
SS
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013599:Systole
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents