Diagnostic criteria and diagnostic considerations for hypertension in the elderly

Hypertension in the elderly consists mostly of essential hypertension, and its pathophysiology differs in many ways from that of essential hypertension in the young or middle-aged. No special diagnostic criteria for hypertension in the elderly were stated in ESH/ESC JNC 7 guidelines, that is, the criteria is systolic pressure of 140 mmHg and greater or diastolic pressure of 90mmHg and greater as in general adults. As the diagnostic considerations for hypertension in the elderly, we should pay much attention to medical history taking, measurement of blood pressure, discrepancy on auscultation, pseudohypertension, fluctuation of blood pressure, and diagnosis of secondary hypertension.