[Blood pressure control by antihypertensive agents in people older than 60].
OBJECTIVE
The prevalence or hypertension increases with aging, reaching more than 50% in people aged 60 years and older. The increase of systolic blood pressure is a major risk of cardiovascular event.


METHODS
With the aim of assessing risk factors in old people "in apparent good health", we analysed blood pressure and treatments in people aged 60 years and older who had a periodic check-up that was adapted to older people.


RESULTS
This check-up concerned, between April and December 2003, 1638 people with a mean age of 68 years (SD 5.7): 815 men and 823 women. Fourty percent had a systolic blood pressure (SBP) >or=140 mmHg (44% of men, 36% of women); 6% (8% of men, 4% of women) had a diastolic blood pressure (DBP) >or=90 mmHg. A treatment for hypertension was followed by 473 people: 31% of men and 26% of women. Fifty percent were controlled for the SBP and the DBP. Fourty-two percent were not controlled for the SBP, but were controlled for the DBP. Seven percent were not controlled for the SBP nor the DBP. Only 3 subjects (<1%) were not controlled for the DBP, whereas they were controlled for SBP.


CONCLUSIONS
These results, combined with data of literature on the predominant role of SBP in cardio-vascular risk, as compared with DBP, underline the need for a better treatment of systolic hypertension in older people.
Perret-Guillaume
C
C
Centre de Gériatrie, Hôpital de Brabois, CHU de Nancy, rue du Morvan, 54500 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France. c.perret-guillaume@chu-nancy.fr
Miget
P
P
Aubry
C
C
Gueguen
R
R
Steyer
E
E
Bénétos
A
A
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003971:Diastole; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013599:Systole
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents