The Importance of Hypertension in the Geriatric Population

A 50% increase in the 1995 US population size by the year 2050 has been projected (1). Although 12.5% of the population was 65 years or older in 1990, it is estimated the percentage will increase to 20% by 2050 (Fig. 1). The number of elderly will increase from 39 million in 2010 to 69 million by 2030 (1). The projected population growth of older patients will certainly increase the prevalence of hypertension in the elderly, which accounts for two-thirds of the elderly population (2). The prevalence of hypertension has increased since 1988 (Fig. 2) (3).