Diuretics for cardiovascular prevention in the elderly.
High blood pressure (BP) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in elderly subjects. Antihypertensive drugs have shown clinical benefit both in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events. If BP lowering represents the major determinant of the effects conferred by the antihypertensive treatment for prevention, recent studies have suggested some differences between classes of antihypertensive drugs according to age. Based on the available clinical data, the recent medical guidelines have recommended thiazide-type diuretics as the preferred drug for the treatment of elderly hypertensive patients, followed by long-acting calcium antagonists. Indeed, diuretics constitute one of the most valuable classes of antihypertensive drugs, and in the elderly, diuretic-based treatment studies have been clearly shown to prevent major cardiovascular events, including stroke, heart failure and coronary heart disease.
Hanon
O
O
Department of Geriatrics, Hôpital Broca, Rue Pascal, Paris, France. olivier.hanon@brc.ap-hop-paris.fr
Seux
M-L
ML
Lenoir
H
H
Rigaud
A-S
AS
Girerd
X
X
Forette
F
F
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001581:Benzothiadiazines; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004232:Diuretics; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001581:Benzothiadiazines; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004232:Diuretics; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors