1. ¹Department of Internal Medicine and Gerontology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Cracow, Poland
2. ²International Institute of Molecular Biology, Warsaw, Poland
3. ³Department of Pathophysiology, University Medical School, Pozna, Poland

Correspondence: Dr J yczkowska, Department of Internal Medicine and Gerontology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, ul. niadeckich 10, Kraków 31-531, Poland. E-mail: klwewiger@su.krakow.pl

Received 2 June 2003; Revised 31 December 2003; Accepted 2 February 2004; Published online 15 April 2004.

Abstract

The objective of the study is assessment of the prevalence and type of hypertension in centenarians in Poland. The investigations included 92 people who had turned 100 years of age, who, within the protocol of the Project of Investigation Polish Centenarians, underwent genetic, anthropometric, psychological and sociological examinations, and whose cardiovascular system was assessed. In the present analysis, we are analysing data concerning their blood pressure (BP) assessed by several measurements (3–6) with the mercury sphygmomanometer on both arms in sitting (if possible) or lying position performed during one visit. Hypertension was diagnosed when average BP value exceeded 160/95 or 140/90 mmHg. The average of age was 101.2 years (range 100–111 years), the respective values for BP were: systolic 146.7 mmHg (99–213 mmHg), diastolic BP—80.3 mmHg (55–114 mmHg) and pulse pressure (PP) 66.4 mmHg (31–129 mmHg). Hypertension diagnosed based on the criterion 160/95 mmHg was found in 29% of subjects, and according to the recent WHO criterion (140/90 mmHg) in 65% of subjects. PP exceeded 65 mmHg in 44.6%, and was above 50 mmHg in 91% subjects. In conclusion, hypertension occurs less frequently in centenarians, than in the entire population of old people, but it nevertheless cannot be considered a rare condition.