title: Beta-blockers use for hypertension in the elderly.
abstract: Beta-blockers are considered as suitable drugs to treat essential hypertension also in elderly patients and they are currently recommended for treatment of hypertension, even in older patients, by the ESH/ESC Guidelines. Different meta-analyses and results of some large clinical trials have shown that here is no clinically difference between β-blockers and other drug classes in decreasing high blood pressure in elderly hypertensive patients. The new vasodilating β-blockers, as nebivolol, carvedilol and celiprolol, offer additional important advantages, compared with traditional β-blockers. The cardio-protective effect of β-blockers (except atenolol) is not inferior to that obtained with other drug classes which is independent of age and gender of the patients.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, C/ Angel MunizToca, 14, 6ºB, 33006 Oviedo, Spain. fiiperva@yahoo.es.
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Herrera
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000075202:Contraindications; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents