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Older age should not be a barrier to the treatment of hypertension

Nature Clinical Practice Cardiovascular Medicine volume 5, pages 514–515 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Commentaries and debates at national medical meetings have fuelled the controversy about treatment of hypertension in patients aged 80 years and older. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was, therefore, indicated to settle the dispute about whether antihypertensive drug therapy is efficacious or harmful in these patients. Results from HYVET (Hypertension in the Very Elderly Trial) showed that, at 2-year follow-up, antihypertensive drug therapy with indapamide, plus perindopril if needed, reduced fatal or nonfatal stroke by 30%, fatal stroke by 39%, all-cause mortality by 21%, cardiovascular death by 23%, and heart failure by 64%. These results indicate that hypertensive patients aged 80 years and older should be treated with antihypertensive drugs.

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Author notes

  1. Cardiology Division, New York Medical College, Macy Pavilion Room 138, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA wsaronow@aol.com

Authors and Affiliations

  1. WS Aronow is Clinical Professor of Medicine in the Divisions of Cardiology, in the Department of Medicine, Geriatrics, and Pulmonary/Critical Care, Chief of the Cardiology Clinic, and Senior Associate Program Director and Research Mentor for the Residency and Fellowship Programs, Westchester Medical Center/New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA.,

    Wilbert S Aronow

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  1. Wilbert S Aronow
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The author declares no competing financial interests.

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Aronow, W. Older age should not be a barrier to the treatment of hypertension. Nat Rev Cardiol 5, 514–515 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncpcardio1291

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