TREATMENT OF ELDERLY HYPERTENSIVES IN JAPAN - NATIONAL INTERVENTION COOPERATIVE STUDY IN ELDERLY HYPERTENSIVES

Prevalence of hypertension in elderly Japanese patients: Data collecte d from post-mortem information at the Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hos pital showed that the overall prevalence of hypertension in Japanese p atients aged over 60 years was 53%; one-third of these elderly hyperte nsives had isolated systolic hypertension. Isolated systolic and systo lodiastolic hypertension were each associated with a similar degree of increased atherosclerosis and cardiovascular complications. In a plac ebo-controlled study antihypertensive treatment produced a reduction i n withdrawal from treatment in elderly patients with mild hypertension . Interim trial results: Some interim results have been obtained from a new trial which is currently under way in Japan, the National Interv ention Cooperative Study for the Treatment of Elderly Hypertensives, a long-term study comparing the effects of a calcium antagonist (nicard ipine) and a thiazide diuretic (trichlormethiazide) on cardiovascular complications in elderly patients with mild to moderate hypertension.