High Blood Pressure Undertreated in Elderly

At the American Society of Hypertension's 19th Annual Scientific Meeting in May, Dr. Lloyd-Jones presented data indicating that high blood pressure is undertreated in the elderly, the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population. In their study of 2,230 men and 2,960 women, Dr. Lloyd-Jones and colleagues found that only 34 percent of those with hypertension had their blood pressure under control (lower than 140/90). Control rates decreased with age, especially in women. Among those 80 and older with hypertension, 32 percent of men but only 24 percent of women had their blood pressure under control.

"Clinicians seem reluctant to treat older patients aggressively, perhaps because of perceived lower benefits or possible risk of side effects," said Dr. Lloyd-Jones. More than 70 percent of subjects age 80 or older had high blood pressure, compared with 59 percent in those ages 60–79 and 27 percent in those younger than 60. The researchers noted that thiazide diuretics are extremely effective in older hypertensive patients but only 22 percent of men and 32 percent of women age 80 and older were taking them.