La hipertensión arterial en la población anciana

The prevalence of essential hypertension in Spanish population elder than 60 years is about 65%. These data are particularly due to an elevated prevalence of isolated systolic hypertension in elderly people. It is known that essential hypertension is the most important risk factor for developing a cardiovascular disease (coronary heart disease, cardiac failure, stroke). Cardiovascular diseases continue to be the leading causes of illness and death among adults from developed countries. Several studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of antihypertensive treatment in hypertensive elderly people. Indeed, antihypertensive treatment and control of high blood pressure are associated with lower risk for developing cardiovascular diseases. However, managing of high blood pressure in elderly population can be difficult since most of these people have comorbidities that could influence the therapy. On the other hand there are some issues that remains unanswered in this group of population, such as how aggressively these patients should be treated, and also evidence enough for treating oldest old patients (those aged > 85 years).