Systolic Hypertension and Stroke in Elderly Patients
Systolic Hypertension and Stroke in Elderly Patients
Systolic hypertension in the elderly is common and serious, and a major complication is stroke. Systolic hypertension is caused by poorly compliant large arteries and must be treated. A problem arises because many drugs that produce a decline in systolic pressure also cause syncope and other unwanted side effects.
Papademetriou and colleagues studied the effect of candesartan, a type 1 angiotensin receptor blocker, in elderly patients with systolic hypertension. They examined 4964 patients whose age ranged from 70 to 89 years. There were 1158 patients whose systolic blood pressure was greater than 160 mm Hg and whose diastolic blood pressure was no less than 90 mm Hg. The drug was given to 754 patients and the remainder served as controls.
The results of the study are interesting. Despite the fact that there was no significant change in blood pressure in the treated group, there was a 42% reduction in stroke.
Systolic hypertension in the elderly is common and serious, and a major complication is stroke. Systolic hypertension is caused by poorly compliant large arteries and must be treated. A problem arises because many drugs that produce a decline in systolic pressure also cause syncope and other unwanted side effects.
Papademetriou and colleagues studied the effect of candesartan, a type 1 angiotensin receptor blocker, in elderly patients with systolic hypertension. They examined 4964 patients whose age ranged from 70 to 89 years. There were 1158 patients whose systolic blood pressure was greater than 160 mm Hg and whose diastolic blood pressure was no less than 90 mm Hg. The drug was given to 754 patients and the remainder served as controls.
The results of the study are interesting. Despite the fact that there was no significant change in blood pressure in the treated group, there was a 42% reduction in stroke.
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