Should we have any doubts about hypertension therapy in elderly patients? ACCF/AHA 2011 expert consensus document on hypertension in the elderly

Hypertension therapy in elderly patients still constitutes a considerable challenge. Its importance is also emphasized by the fact that, nowadays, many inter-national organizations focus on the problem of an aging society (in 2030, life expectancy at birth in the European Union 27 is expected to rise to 85.3 years for women and 80.0 years for men). They discuss not only the optimal therapy in elderly patients, the problem of compliance and polypragmasy, but also the quality of life as well as the social, economic, and psycho-logical challenges associated with this patient group. However, neither the available trials nor the European Society of Hypertension guidelines (2009) finally answered all important questions on hypertension management in elderly people. Thus, the first official recommendations on hypertension therapy in this patient group were much expected. The American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association 2011 Expert Consensus Document on Hypertension in the Elderly was published on April 25, 2011. The present article summarizes the most important issues discussed in this document.