Clinical characteristics of arterial hypertension in the elderly

The clinical characteristics of systolic and diastolic hypertension in 75 and of systolic hypertension in 50 elderly patients have been studied and the results have been compared to those obtained in 23 normotense elderly controls and 500 young patients with essential hypertension. A greater incidence in cardiovascular and neurologic morbility was observed in the hypertense elderly, existing also a greater incidence of electrocardiographic abnormalities and impairment in renal function. The changes in blood pressure with postural changes and isometric and physical exercise were evaluated in a subgroup of these patients, finding that the elderly with hypertension, specially those with systolic hypertension, showed orthostatic hypotension, and an increase in blood pressure with exercise, reaching levels that could potentially cause the clinical complications.