Hypertension in the aging patient. Implications for the selection of drug therapy.

Although earlier debates had questioned the wisdom of treating hypertension in elderly patients, it is now becoming apparent that such treatment is warranted. Systolic hypertension, which prevails in this population, is more closely correlated to hypertensive complications than is diastolic blood pressure. Recent multicenter trials have demonstrated that in this age group, as in younger patients, control of hypertension can significantly decrease the rate of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. Many effective antihypertensive agents are available today, but elderly patients, because of their hemodynamic and biochemical characteristics, are particularly vulnerable to the common side effects of most drugs. However, the two newer classes of drugs (the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and the calcium channel blockers) offer several advantages in terms of favorable hemodynamic and biochemical profiles, convenience of dosing, and maintenance of quality of life. These characteristics justify choosing these agents as first-line therapy for hypertension.