Profile of hypertension in elderly subjects.
OBJECTIVE
To study clinical profile of hypertension in elderly subjects.


METHODS
Two hundred and five consecutive subjects aged 60 years and above reporting to preventive cardiology clinic with cardiovascular disorders were studied. One hundred fifty six subjects (76.09%) were found to have essential hypertension (HTN). Newly detected hypertensives were classified as per JNC-VI classification. Detailed clinical examination and laboratory investigations were carried out to find evidence of associated ailments with HTN.


RESULTS
Most of the patients belonged to 60-70 years age group. Mean age was 67.36 +/- 6.23 years (range 60 to 90 years) and male to female ratio was 1.44:1. Out of hypertensives 99 (63.46%) had HTN for long period, while 28 (17.94%), 17 (10.89%) and 12 (7.67%) belonged to mild, moderate and severe HTN categories, respectively. Out of newly detected hypertensives 14 (24.56%) were having isolated systolic HTN. Associated clinical conditions in hypertensives were coronary artery disease (CAD), non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), cerebrovascular disease (CVD), left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 69 (57.05%), 49 (31.41%), 37 (23.71%), 20 (12.80%) and 10 (6.4%) subjects, respectively. HTN alone was found in 31 (19.87%) subjects only. Since most of these patients had other concomitant illnesses such as CAD. NIDDM etc. therapy was initiated accordingly. Four (20%) patients with LVH died within short period of 1 to 12 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
HTN is the commonest cardiovascular disorder in elderly subjects. CAD, NIDDM and CVD are commonly associated clinical conditions. Patients with associated LVH have very high short term mortality.
Dwivedi
S
S
Preventive Cardiology Clinic UCMS-GTB Hospital, Delhi 110 095.
Singh
G
G
Agarwal
M P
MP
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016019:Survival Analysis