There are three types of elderly hypertension: isolated systolic hypertension, isolated diastolic hypertension and mixed hypertension.
Among all elderly hypertension cases, 65% are classified as isolated systolic hypertension. After age 55, isolated systolic hypertension is the most common form. In developed countries, systolic pressure rises steadily with age; by contrast, diastolic pressure rises until about age 55 and then fall progressively thereafter.
Isolated systolic hypertension occurs in 8% of people in the age stratum 60-69 years and rising to 22% for those aged 80 years or older.
Isolated systolic hypertension is more common in women and is a major risk factor for diastolic heart failure, which also is more common in women.
Secondary causes include disorders associated with either increased cardiac output (anemia, thyrotoxicosis, arteriovenous fistula, Paget disease of bone, and beriberi) or increased cardiac stroke volume.
Isolated systolic hypertension
