Background: There is concern about the consequences that hypertension has on the well being and mortality of elderly people.
Aim: To compare the morbidity and mortality of young and old treated hypertensive subjects.
Material and methods: Retrospective analysis of hypertensive subjects treated and followed for a period of 10 +/- 9 years. Subjects that started treatment at an age of less than 65 years and those that started treatment after 65 years of age, were analyzed separately. The antihypertensive drugs used for treatment and blood pressure reduction were similar in both groups.
Results: Subjects that started treatment after 65 years of age (157 females and 133 males) had lower serum cholesterol levels and a higher prevalence of end organ damage than their younger counterparts. Women over 65 had a higher body mass index than women of less than 65. Males over 65 years had a higher prevalence of diabetes than younger males. Mortality and complications of hypertension were higher in subjects that started treatment after 65 years of age.
Conclusions: The higher mortality of subjects that start hypertensive treatment after 65 years of age, is indicative of the need to detect and treat hypertension at the earliest possible moment.