Hypertension in the Old and Very Old: Current Concepts

Old age is defined variably in medical parlor. Blood pressure (BP) increases with age as a continuous variable. Hypertension is the single most attributable risk factor for death worldwide and accounts for considerable morbidity. Control of BP reverses this process. However, when to treat the elderly and how, is sometimes a confusing area. Due to high rates of comor bidities and drug adverse effects, often the elderly are undertreated. But, it should be made clear that the benefit of treatment of BP in the elderly is very high and if treatment is provided with reasonable standard of care, the benefit far outweighs the risk.