[Hypertension in the elderly - changing attitudes toward treatment].

Raised blood pressure in the elderly is a frequent finding and is not a benign occurence. It should not be viewed as a normal or inevitable consequence of aging. Recent major intervention trials against hypertension in the elderly have showed clear benefits from actively lowering elevated arterial pressure in this group of patients and also in those with isolated systolic hypertension. This review emphasises the importance of antihypertensive treatment in the elderley and underlines the strategies and problems in the care of elderly patients with hypertension.