tailieunhanh - Epidemiology of hypertension in the elderly

and gait is mostly derived from studies that measured and reported EF as a composite score [12,18,19]. Relatively few studies have focused on the age-related deficits in specific components of executive function and most of these studies were based on a traditional set of tests of executive function, without detailing specific components. The conclusions drawn from these studies might, therefore, be limited by their methodologies. The putative executive measures might not load on a single executive construct, and might overlap with each other [20,21]. The differential breakdown for the executive functioning performance across patients with chronic schizophrenia, for example, suggests that the fractionation of central executive functioning occurs in schizophrenia and not all EF. | - Health Science Journal Volume 4 issue 1 2010 Epidemiology of hypertension in the elderly Fotoula Babatsikou 1 Assimina Zavitsanou 2. 1. MD RN PhD Assistant Professor of Nursing Department of Nursing A Technological Educational Institute TEI of Athens Greece 2. MSc PhD Department of Public Hygiene Laboratory of Hygiene and Epidemiology Technological Educational Institution TEI of Athens Greece Abstract Background Hypertension is significantly associated with the increased morbidity and mortality rates from cerebrovascular disease myocardial infarction congestive heart failure and renal insufficiency. Arterial hypertension is highly prevalent in the elderly this article reviews on the epidemiological features of hypertension in the elderly. Method and Material We conducted a search of the literature in several databases Medline Scopus EMBASE and CINAHL to identify articles related to hypertension epidemiology. We also obtained relevant statistical information from the World Health Organization s internet database. The search was performed using the following key terms hypertension epidemiology elderly prevalence incidence risk factors mortality morbidity treatment and prevention. Results Hypertension is highly prevalent in the elderly. Several epidemiological surveys conducted in the USA and Europe conclude that hypertension prevalence in the elderly ranges between 53 and 72 . Same prevalence patterns have been observed in Greece for this specific age group. High blood pressure values in the presence of several risk factors obesity diabetes mellitus increased salt intake hyperlipidemia smoking lack of physical activity psychological factors advanced age sex lead to a further increase of cardiovascular disease risk. Regular physical activity the implementation of a healthy diet and medication are some of the preventive measures that can be adopted for the reduction of high blood pressure levels. Conclusions The most efficient treatment method of coronary