A clinical and echocardiographic study in elderly hypertensive patients

Introduction: Isolated systolic hypertension is the commonest cause of raised blood pressure in the older population. As the age progresses more and more persons will be hypertensive. It is a disease, which is definitely the most prevalent, remediable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and cerebrovascular diseases. Objective: To study the clinical profile of hypertension in elderly, to find out associated risk factors, especially on cardiac through echocardiography. Materials and Methods: A total number of sixty elderly hypertensive patients of ?60 years with systolic blood pressure ? 140 and diastolic blood pressure ? 90 mm of Hg were included in this study. A detailed history with general and systemic examination with fundus examination was carried out. Complete blood count, urine analysis, blood sugar, renal profile, lipid profile, chest x-ray, electrocardiogram, and echocardiogram were done in all patients. Results: Sixty patients were evaluated, and the mean age was 67.72±7.004 years of which 35 (58.33%) were males and 25 (41.67%) females and the common age group was 60-65 years. Chest pain in 45% and breathlessness in 38.33% were commonest clinical presentation. Family history, smoking history and total cholesterol were associated risk factors of hypertension. Hypertensive retinopathy was observed in 38.33% patients. Ischemic changes in 31.67% followed by left ventricular hypertrophy in 20% were most common electrocardiographic findings. The echocardiographic evaluation showed left ventricular dysfunction in 63.33% was common entity in the form of left ventricular hypertrophy in 30%, left ventricular dilatation in 15% and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in 48.33%. Ischemic heart disease was diagnosed in 55% patients. Out of these 18 (54.55%) had anterior, 4 (12.12%) lateral, 3 (9.09%) inferior and 4 (12.12%) septal infarcts. One patient had global hypokinesia, and three patients had more than one segment involvement. There was strong co relatio