[The status of hypertensive therapy in old age].

In a representative sample of 741 persons age 60 to 89 in West-Berlin, blood pressure and the use of antihypertensive medication were examined. 29% of the respondents took their medicaments regularly. About 55% showed high blood pressure but only 20% of them were informed about their condition. This paper presents the results of the study. Problems of the definition of hypertension and its therapy in old age are discussed.