END-ORGAN DAMAGE IN ESSENTIAL-HYPERTENSION IN THE ELDERLY

To elucidate the characteristics of end-organ damage in essential hypertension in the elderly, the progression of end-organ damage, with respect to deterioration of renal function and changes in the optic fundi, were compared between young and elderly essential hypertensive patients with the same left ventricular mass index (LVMI). Forty five elderly hypertensive patients (age greater than or equal to 65 years) were matched with 40 young patients (age less than or equal to 55 years) for sex and LVMI. All studies were performed under hospitalisation to uniform the background of diet acid daily activity. Compared with young hypertensive patients, elderly patients were characterised to have advanced endorgan damage. In young patients, the levels of progression of end-organ damage were significantly correlated with each other, while in elderly patients no relation was observed, In young patients, LVMI was significantly correlated with urinary and plasma noradrenaline, PRA and 24 h blood pressure. In elderly patients, LVMI correlated only with 24 h systolic blood pressure.