Arterial hypertension and diabetes association in the elderly

Background High blood pressure is common in the elderly diabetic, responsible for an increase in cardiovascular risk and an acceleration of the degenerative complications of diabetes. Purpose The aim of this study was to determine the characteristics of hypertension in elderly diabetic subjects and to study its repercussions. Methods Our descriptive study was performed in 60 hypertensive diabetic patients over than 65 years of age, followed in our department. Hypertension was defined as arterial pressure ≥ 140/90 mmHg. A complete clinical examination and a standard biological assessment were performed for each patient. Results The mean age of the patients was 68.72 years; 61.2% of patients were between 60 and 65 years of age. The mean duration of diabetes progression was 14.2 years and 72% of patients received insulin therapy. The majority (91%) of these patients had uncontrolled diabetes; the average HbA1c was 10.2%. The diagnosis of diabetes preceded that of hypertension in 73.6% of cases. Thirty-three percent of our population had an uncontrolled hypertension. Patients had on a salt-free diet in 18.1% of cases and a dietary salt restriction in 21.2% of cases. Among our hypertensive patients, 29.9 received a monotherapy and 44.2% a dual therapy. Dyslipidemia was found in 51.6% of our patients. A microalbuminuria was noted in 32.3% of patients. Retinopathy was found in 48% of patients, neuropathy in 34.6%. There is a history of stroke in 3.8% of cases and a history of myocardial infarction in 2.2% of cases. Coronary insufficiency was confirmed in 5.8% of cases, unexplored chest pain was found in 26.6% of cases. Intermittent claudication was noted in 24.2% of cases. This claudication was explored and confirmed in 2% of cases. Conclusion Vascular metabolic complications are serious in hypertensive elderly diabetic subjects; thus, multidisciplinary care and regular monitoring is required to detect these complications early and improve life expectancy.