Hypertension in the elderly: A reappraisal

The elderly are the most rapidly growing demographic subset of world population. Not only does the prevalence of hypertension increase with age, but elderly patients also have increased prevalence of co-morbidities like coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, chronic renal impairment, stroke and cognitive decline. Managing hypertension in elderly patients represents a therapeutic challenge for physicians and till recently the overall benefits of treating these patients remained unclear. The following review focuses on salient features of hypertension in the elderly population along with reappraisal of blood pressure management principles in this population.