The percentage of the population which is elderly has been increasing steadily in many
countries in the world and as this tendency continues the question of how to treat the
elderly rises in importance. The problem of how to manage hypertension in the elderly has
become one of the most important issues in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular
disease. However not many of the cIinical studies performed so far to evaluate the effects of
antihypertensive drug treatment have incIuded the elderly. Many important problems remain
unsolved. How much bene ficial effect can be expected from active antihypertensive drug
treatment in the elderly? How can isolated systolic hypertension which is fre quently
encountered in the elderly have better prognosis when treated? When is drug treatment
indicated to what level should blood pressure be reduced and maintained in the e1derly and
how should drugs be selected? The elderly also frequently bear other medical problems either
re cognized or unrecognized such as mental depression respiratory problems infection
malignant neoplasms and water and electrolyte im balances. The body's ability to eliminate
drugs also decreases with age and necessitates modified dosage. The 12th Scientific Meeting of
the International Society of Hyperten sion held in Kyoto Japan on May 22-26 1988 incIuded the
satelIite symposium. How Should Elderly Hypertensive Patients Be Treated? wh ich focused on the
pathophysiology and outcome of elderly hyperten sive patients.
