Abstract
Hypertension is one of the most common problems at higher age and belongs to the most important cardiovascular risk factors. Subjects aged 65 years and more have typically isolated systolic hypertension with increased pulse pressure as a consequence of decreased elasticity of central arteries.
With increasing age, the prevalence of cardiovascular/ renal diseases and diabetes is higher. Therefore, we use drugs that have cardiprotective effect and do not affect negatively concomitant diseases.
Diuretics have the largest data from prospective studies, calcium channels blockers are suitable especially in isolated systolic hypertension, and ACE inhibitors tested in high-risk hypertensive patients, especially after stroke. The HYVET study showed that the risk of cardiovascular events and of heart failure is decreased with antihypertensive troroeatment also in subjects aged 80 years and more.
Key words: hypertension in the elderly - isolated systolic hypertension - pulse pressure - treatment of hypertension.