RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Blood pressure in the elderly
JF The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
JO J R Coll Gen Pract
FD British Journal of General Practice
SP 745
OP 749
VO 26
IS 171
A1 John Coope
YR 1976
UL http://bjgp.org/content/26/171/745.abstract
AB The distribution of blood pressure levels in elderly patients is described and the evidence that higher levels are associated with morbidity at this age is reviewed. In the absence of definitive evidence about the results of treating hypertension in the elderly, the physiological factors that have to be taken into account are surveyed with particular reference to aggravating cerebral ischaemia. More potent hypotensive agents should be avoided in older patients and in practice the decision on whether to treat may depend more on the clinical context than on the level of the blood pressure itself.