Does the Evidence Support Age Specific Guideline for the Management of Hypertension?

Abstract

Abstract

Hypertension is an age associated worldwide public problem and according to JNC 7 affects “approximately 50 million individuals in the United States and 1 billion worldwide”. The elderly population keeps dramatically growing all over the world. Hypertension is considered “the most common primary diagnosis in America,” and Nurse Practitioner s (NPs) are well-positioned to manage elderly patients with hypertension. According to the new hypertension guidelines, JNC 8, hypertension is considered “the most common condition seen in primary care and leads to myocardial infarction, stroke, renal failure, and death if not detected early and treated appropriately.” The main purpose of this paper is to review and analyze the most recent evidence-based literature, and determine the current recommendations to safely manage elderly patients with hypertension.