Analysis of blood pressure level and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in elderly patients with hypertension

AIM:To analyze blood pressure and common risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in elderly patients with hypertension. METHODS: From January 2007 to June 2009, 1002 patients with hypertension aged 65 and over were recruited from the Outpatient Department in our hospital. A cross-sectional survey was designed to measure blood pressure and to investigate common risk factors for CVD including heart diseases, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, obesity, cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels, exposure rate of common risk factors for CVD and exposure to multiple risk factors between age and gender groups were analyzed. RESULTS: Mean of systolic and diastolic blood pressure in elderly patients with hypertension was (149±20)mmHg and (82±11)mmHg, respectively. Diastolic pressure in male patients was significantly higher than in female patients and diastolic pressure in patients aged 65-69 years was higher than in patients aged <65 years (P<0.01). Exposure rates of heart diseases, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and obesity were 39.8, 16.2, 36.8 and 10.3%, respectively. Exposure rate of hyperlipidemia in female patients was significantly higher than in male patients (P<0.05), but the rates of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption in male patients were significantly higher than in female patients (P<0.01). The rate of multiple (two or three) factors of heart diseases, diabetes and hyperlipidemia was 20.1% in male patients and 26.8% in female patients. The rate of heart diseases complicated by hyperlipidemia in female patients was significantly higher than in male patients. CONCLUSION: Diastolic blood pressure is better controlled than systolic pressure in elderly patients with hypertension; 22.8% patients under study are exposed to two or three risk factors.