OBJECTIVEWe followed a group of community residents above 60 years old to investigate how isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) could influence the prognosis in the long run among the elderly.

METHODSA selected sample of 60 year olds and over from the Beijing residential communities was randomized ascertained to a longitudinal study. Baseline data was collected in 1993 and 11 years later in 2004, the all-cause death, mortality of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases were observed and analyzed.

RESULTS(1) The morbidity of hypertension(HT) was 61.7% and ISH was 27.8% seen in baseline survey while the SBP was increasing with age. (2) The longitudinal study showed that the total mortality and the mortality of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in HT group were higher than in the normal blood pressure(BP) group. The total mortality in the group ISH was higher than in normal BP group (55.2%: 46.2%; P < 0.01). The mortality OR for group ISH/group normal BP was 1.4 and group DSH/group normal BP was 1.6. The level of SBP was related to prognosis too which showed that the mortality appeared the lowest in 120-139 mm Hg group, and increased when the level of SBP was above 140 mm Hg.

CONCLUSIONSBP was an independent risk factor on the all-cause mortality and the mortality of cerebrovascular diseases in eldevly. ISH also appeared a risk factor on the prognosis among the elderly, suggesting that more attention should be paid to it and treatment be carefully addressed.