Arterial hypertension in elderly

Czech version

Authors: Filipovský Jan
Authors‘ workplace: II. interní klinika Lékařské fakulty v Plzni, Univerzita Karlova, Fakultní nemocnice Plzeň
Published in: Geriatrie a Gerontologie 2024, 13, č. 1: 7-13
Category: Review Article

Overview

Hypertension is one of the most common problems at higher age and belongs to the most important cardiovascular risk factors. Subjects aged 65 years and more have typically isolated systolic hypertension with increased pulse pressure as a consequence of decreased elasticity of central arteries. With increasing age, the prevalence of cardiovascular and renal diseases and diabetes is higher. Therefore, we use drugs that have cardiprotective effect and do not affect negatively concomitant diseases. Blockers of renin-angiotensin system, calcium channels blockers and thiazide-type diuretics are basic drugs; their combination results in effective control of hypertension. The risk of cardiovascular events and of heart failure is decreased after antihypertensive treatment also in subjects aged 80 years and more.

Keywords:

hypertension in the elderly, isolated systolic hypertension, pulse pressure, treatment of hypertension

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