Treatment of hypertension in the elderly

Vascular hemodynamics and blood pressure differences between young and older women

Background

Cardiovascular disease is one of the main causes of death in the United States, and hypertension is a primary risk factor. Therefore, the primary causes of hypertension need to be identified so they may be addressed for treatment. The purpose of this study was to compare blood pressure with hemodynamic values and identify factors that may explain blood pressure differences between a cohort of healthy normotensive younger and older women.

Methods

Participants were 49 young (age: 33.8 ± 5.9) and 103 old (age: 65.8 ± 4) who were non-hypertensive, had no previous history of heart disease or type 2 diabetes, body mass index less than 30 kg/m², normal electrocardiography response at rest and during exercise, nonsmokers, and no use of medications known to affect cardiovascular or metabolic function. Body composition measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Hemodynamic values measured by non-invasive pulse wave velocity through radial artery tonometry. Markers of inflammation measured through blood sample analysis.

Results

Significant differences exist between young and old groups in %fat (P < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (P = 0.001), large artery elasticity (P = 0.005), small artery elasticity (P < 0.001), systemic vascular resistance (P = 0.004), total vascular impedance (P < 0.001), estimated cardiac output (P < 0.001), and tumor necrosis factor-⍺ (TNF-⍺) (P < 0.001). Using ANCOVA the difference in SBP between age groups was no longer significant after adjusting for small artery elasticity (P < 0.001) and TNF-⍺ (P = 0.041).

Conclusions

These data demonstrate that blood pressure and vascular hemodynamic measures differ significantly between young and old women independent of body composition. Furthermore, these differences may be explained by the inflammation marker TNF-⍺ and/or small artery elasticity.

Efficacy and Safety of Sacubitril/Valsartan (LCZ696) Compared With Olmesartan in Elderly Asian Patients (≥65 Years) With Systolic Hypertension

OBJECTIVE

Systolic hypertension is common in elderly patients and remains a challenge to treat effectively. The efficacy and safety of sacubitril/valsartan (LCZ696), a first-in-class angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor, vs. olmesartan was evaluated in elderly Asian patients (≥65 years) with systolic hypertension.

METHODS

In this randomized, double-blind, 14-week study, patients initially received once-daily sacubitril/valsartan 100 mg or olmesartan 10 mg, increased to sacubitril/valsartan 200 mg or olmesartan 20 mg at week 4. At week 10, for patients with blood pressure (BP) >140/90 mm Hg, the doses were up-titrated to sacubitril/valsartan 400 mg or olmesartan 40 mg. The primary assessment was superiority of sacubitril/valsartan vs. olmesartan in reducing office mean sitting (ms) systolic BP (msSBP) from baseline at week 10. Secondary efficacy assessments included changes from baseline in ms diastolic BP (msDBP), ms pulse pressure (msPP), 24-hour mean ambulatory (ma) BP (maBP), and maPP at week 10; msBP and msPP at weeks 4 and 14.

RESULTS

Overall, 588 patients were randomized (mean age, 70.7 years; baseline msBP, 160.3/84.9 mm Hg; msPP, 75.4 mm Hg). At week 10, sacubitril/valsartan provided superior msSBP reductions vs. olmesartan (22.71 vs. 16.11 mm Hg, respectively; P < 0.001); similarly, reductions from baseline in other BP and PP assessments were significantly greater with sacubitril/valsartan. At week 14, despite more patients requiring up-titration in the olmesartan group, msBP and msPP reductions from baseline were significantly greater with sacubitril/valsartan. Both treatments were generally well-tolerated.

CONCLUSION

Sacubitril/valsartan is more effective than olmesartan in reducing BP in elderly Asian patients with systolic hypertension.

Incremental Blood Pressure-Lowering Effect of Titrating Amlodipine for the Treatment of Hypertension in Patients Including Those Aged ≥55 Years

Small reductions in blood pressure reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. Here, we report 2 post hoc pooled analyses assessing the antihypertensive effect of amlodipine in patients who had not responded to 5 mg and were uptitrated to 10 mg. The first analysis assessed subgroups of patients aged either younger than 55 years or 55 years or older and the second analysis pooled all patients irrespective of age. Of 706 patients in the age-related analysis, a statistically significant decrease in blood pressure from baseline was observed {for younger than 55 years [N = 253]: systolic blood pressure = −12.8 [standard error (SE) = 0.90] mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure = −8.0 [SE = 0.55] mm Hg; for 55 years or older [N = 453]: systolic blood pressure = −12.1 [SE = 0.66] mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure = −6.7 [SE = 0.39] mm Hg; all P < 0.0001}. In total, 45.8% and 39.3% of patients aged younger than 55 and 55 years or older, respectively, achieved their blood pressure goals. Adverse events were experienced by 62 (24.5%) patients aged younger than 55 years and 136 (30.0%) patients aged 55 years or older. Similar efficacy and safety results were seen in the all patient pooled analysis. Titration of amlodipine from 5 mg to 10 mg significantly decreased blood pressure in older hypertensive patients, which is clinically relevant because increased age is associated with hypertension and cardiovascular events.

Associations between arterial elasticity and markers of inflammation in healthy older women

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the associations between circulating markers of inflammation and arterial elasticity in healthy older women. Participants were 50 women older than 60 years of age, body mass index 27 ± 4, and physically untrained. Large artery elasticity, small artery elasticity, systemic vascular resistance, total vascular impedance, estimated cardiac output, and estimated cardiac index were determined using pulse contour analysis. Serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α, C-reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin 6 were assessed. Results from Pearson's correlation revealed that tumor necrosis factor-α was inversely associated with large artery elasticity (-.426, p < .01) and estimated cardiac index (-.324, p < .05) and positively associated with systemic vascular resistance (.386, p < .01) and total vascular impedance (.416, p < .01). Additionally, C-reactive protein was inversely associated with large artery elasticity (-.308, p < .01). The overall implication was that tumor necrosis factor-α and C-reactive protein appear to be critical inflammatory cytokines associated with reductions in arterial elasticity in older women.

New and old mechanisms associated with hypertension in the elderly

Hypertension is a widely prevalent and important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases that increase with aging. The hallmark of hypertension in the elderly is increased vascular dysfunction. However, the molecular mechanisms by which increased blood pressure leads to vascular injury and impaired endothelial function are not well defined. In the present paper, we will analyze several mechanisms described in the scientific literature involved in hypertension in the elderly as endothelial dysfunction, increased oxygen delivery to tissues, inflammation, cellular apoptosis, and increased concentration of active metabolites. Also, we will focus on new molecular mechanisms involved in hypertension such as telomeres shortening, progenitor cells, circulating microparticles, and epigenetic factors that have appeared as possible causes of hypertension in the elderly. These molecular mechanisms may elucidate different origin for hypertension in the elderly and provide us with new targets for hypertension treatment.

Hypertension in the elderly: a review of the importance of systolic blood pressure elevation

The elderly, those 65 years of age and older, will account for 20% of the population by the year 2040. Hypertension affects more than one half of the elderly and its prevalence continues to increase with age. The presence of hypertension confers an increased risk of stroke, congestive heart failure, coronary heart disease, end-stage renal disease, and death. Although both diastolic and systolic blood pressure elevations are independently associated with increased cardiovascular risk in the younger individual, as vascular compliance becomes reduced at age 60, an increasing systolic blood pressure and lower diastolic blood pressure (or wider pulse pressure) increase cardiovascular risk in the elderly. Isolated systolic hypertension is the most common form of hypertension seen in the elderly. Lifestyle modification, including weight loss and salt restriction, reduces blood pressure, and may decrease the need for pharmacologic therapy. When the systolic blood pressure is 160 mm Hg or more and the diastolic blood pressure is <90 mm Hg, the initial use of a diuretic-based or calcium channel blocker-based regimen improves outcome. Alpha blocker therapy should not be used as initial monotherapy. Most elderly hypertensives will require two to three drugs to achieve the present blood pressure goal of <140 mm Hg. Caution should be exercised when lowering diastolic pressure to <55 mm Hg in those with isolated systolic hypertension. Although side effects of therapy are no more likely to occur in the elderly than in the younger individual with hypertension, blood pressure reduction should be accomplished gradually.

Prevalence, treatment, and control of hypertension by sociodemographic factors among the Dutch elderly

The study objective was to assess the prevalence, level of treatment, and control of hypertension in a general elderly population according to age and sociodemographic factors. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 7983 participants of the Rotterdam Study who were >/=55 years old and living in a district of Rotterdam. The prevalence of hypertension was based on blood pressure levels (>/=160/95 mm Hg) and the use of blood pressure-lowering medication for the indication of hypertension, type of treatment, and control of hypertension. Systolic blood pressure rises with age, whereas diastolic blood pressure declines. The prevalence of hypertension increases with age and was higher among women (39%) than among men (31%). About 80% of the hypertensives were aware of having hypertension, and 82% of the 80% were treated. For 70% of them, treatment was adequate with reference to conservative criteria. Hypertension was more prevalent among persons not living in a home for the elderly, for more-educated men, and for less-educated women. Persons without a partner and men living in a home for the elderly had a higher risk of being unaware of or of not being treated for existing hypertension. Treatment was more often successful among those living in a home for the elderly. The prevalence of hypertension was higher among older women and increased with age in both genders. A large proportion of hypertensive elderly persons were aware and were successfully treated for hypertension. The degree of awareness and control appeared to be affected by sociodemographic factors. More importantly, the majority of hypertensives did not have their hypertension well controlled. This group requires more attention by medical practitioners to reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases in elderly persons.

Alpha-adrenergic blocking drugs in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia: interactions with antihypertensive therapy

Management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is often complicated by concomitant hypertension, a life-threatening condition that must be managed optimally. Many of the alpha blockers used to treat BPH also decrease blood pressure, and terazosin and doxazosin have been shown to have significant cardiovascular side effects, such as asthenia/fatigue, postural hypotension, and dizziness when used to treat BPH patients. Furthermore, these drugs are not first-line therapies for hypertension, and the majority of hypertensive BPH patients will be receiving other antihypertensive agents. Therefore, it is possible that the introduction of these drugs will affect blood pressure control, at least temporarily, with possible adverse effects. In contrast, the selective alpha1A blocker tamsulosin does not appear to have significant cardiovascular side effects and produces minimal blood pressure reductions. Therefore, urologists can choose either to use alpha blockers to treat both hypertension and BPH or to treat BPH using alpha blockers that do not interact with antihypertensive therapy. This review focuses on the alpha blockers currently being used to treat BPH, their effects on the cardiovascular system, and their interaction with antihypertensive drugs.