Mj. Prince, THE TREATMENT OF HYPERTENSION IN OLDER-PEOPLE AND ITS EFFECT ON COGNITIVE FUNCTION, Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy, 51(5), 1997, pp. 208-212
Citations number
23
Categorie Soggetti
Pharmacology & Pharmacy","Medicine, Research & Experimental
The benefits of antihypertensive drug therapy for older people have be
en clearly established. Meta-analysis suggests a 12% reduction in all-
cause mortality, a 20% reduction in coronary heart disease and a 36% r
eduction in stroke. The absolute benefits of treatment are great due t
o the high incidence of vascular disease among older people. Clinician
s may nevertheless have been deterred from initiating treatment becaus
e of concerns regarding adverse effects on cognition, mood, functional
ability and quality of life. Recent evidence from randomised controll
ed trials suggests that these concerns are groundless. In the light of
this evidence it is therefore disturbing that up to 50% of all older
people with hypertension may remain untreated; and in over 50% of thos
e who are treated, blood pressure may be inadequately controlled.