Diuretics for cardiovascular prevention in the elderly

• Published in: Journal of human hypertension Vol. 18; no. S2; pp. S15 - S22
• Main Authors: Hanon, O, Seux, M-L, Lenoir, H, Rigaud, A-S, Girerd, X, Forette, F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Nature Publishing Group 01.12.2004
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antagonists; Antihypertensive Agents - administration & dosage; Antihypertensive Agents - pharmacology; Antihypertensive Agents - therapeutic use; Antihypertensives; Benzothiadiazines; Blood pressure; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Calcium antagonists; Calcium Channel Blockers - administration & dosage; Calcium Channel Blockers - pharmacology; Calcium Channel Blockers - therapeutic use; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Cerebrovascular diseases; Congestive heart failure; Coronary artery disease; Diagnosis; Diuretics; Dosage and administration; Drug therapy; Drug Therapy, Combination; Humans; Hypertension; Hypertension - complications; Hypertension - drug therapy; Middle Aged; Physiological aspects; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Risk factors; Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors - administration & dosage; Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors - pharmacology; Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Treatment Outcome; Vascular diseases; France
• ISSN: 0950-9240; 1476-5527
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.jhh.1001796

High blood pressure (BP) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in elderly subjects. Antihypertensive drugs have shown clinical benefit both in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events. If BP lowering represents the major determinant of the effects conferred by the antihypertensive treatment for prevention, recent studies have suggested some differences between classes of antihypertensive drugs according to age. Based on the available clinical data, the recent medical guidelines have recommended thiazide-type diuretics as the preferred drug for the treatment of elderly hypertensive patients, followed by long-acting calcium antagonists. Indeed, diuretics constitute one of the most valuable classes of antihypertensive drugs, and in the elderly, diuretic-based treatment studies have been clearly shown to prevent major cardiovascular events, including stroke, heart failure and coronary heart disease.