Kidney and hypertension in older adults

Abstract

Individuals over 65years are the fastest expanding population throughout the world, due to the increase in human life expectancy. This growing geriatric population, with increasingly associated chronic diseases, has relevant medical, social, and economic impact. Aging is characterized by progressive structural and functional changes in the kidney and in the cardiovascular system, leading to decline in renal function and hypertension. The purpose of this review is to describe the aging-related renal changes and blood pressure regulation during the aging process, their impact with regards to morbidity and mortality in these patients, and to summarize the most appropriate therapeutic approaches in these situations based on the particularities of this population group.

Keywords: Aging; CKD; Cardiovascular risk; ERC; Envejecimiento; HTA; Hypertension; Kidney; Riesgo cardiovascular; Riñón.