Epidemiologic aspects of elderly hypertensive patients and the results of treatment with nitrendipine.

Throughout the developed world, populations are growing older. Blood pressure, especially systolic blood pressure, increases with aging, and this increase leads to increased risks of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Clinical trials demonstrate that treatment of hypertension in the elderly reduces overall cardiovascular mortality, cardiac mortality, nonfatal cardiovascular events, congestive heart failure, progression to severe hypertension, and strokes. Drug treatment has been well tolerated, but diuretic therapy has been known to increase plasma glucose, uric acid, and creatinine. Therapeutic trials of nonpharmacologic treatment may be indicated in those with mild elevation in blood pressure and no serious end organ disease. However, most people up to age 80 will require drug treatment. Many drugs are effective in the elderly, but, some like beta-blockers, may not be as effective as in younger patients. Controlled clinical trials demonstrate that nitrendipine, a calcium channel blocking drug, significantly reduced mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure in older hypertensive patients, (successfully controlling pressure in a high percentage) and was well tolerated. Drug effects persist for 12 h or more. The drug decreased the exercise-induced rise in the rate-pressure product. Although there is a temporary increase in heart rate, this returns to baseline after a short time. Side effects include headache, flushing, dizziness, edema, and palpitations. Therefore, nitrendipine offers a reasonable and useful alternative to many other drugs in the treatment of combined systolic and diastolic hypertension in the elderly.