Systolic hypertension in the elderly

Hypertension in the elderly is, of course, not a disease entity as such, and the condition is not uniform in either its manifestation or prognosis. First of all, there is a continuation of ordinary essential hypertension manifest by elevated diastolic pressure and usually accompanied by at least a proportionate rise in systolic blood pressure. The pathophysiology and prognostic risk of this hypertension in the elderly is well known and is certainly not better than for younger people. Moreover, the VA Cooperative Study and the Hypertension Detection and Follow-up Program (for the age group 60-69) demonstrated benefit from treatment which lowered such pressures [1, 2].