Archives of G-crontologyand G-criatrics 20 (1995) 87-91 ARCHIVES OF GERONTOLOGY AND GERIATRICS Epidemiological aspects of isolated systolic hypertension in the elderly population as cerebrovascular risk factor R. Antonicelli *a, R. Gesuita b, E. Paciaroni a aDepartment of Cardiovascular Pathology, INRCA, Via della Montagnola 164, 60121 Ancona, Italy bCenterfor Demographic and Statistical Analysis, INRCA, Lungomare Vanvitelli, 18, 60121 Ancona, Italy Received 26 May 1994; revision received 11 August 1994; accepted 16 September 1994 AIBtmet A large number of studies indicate that isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) is an important cercbrovascular risk factor. This clinical state is very common in elderly people who arc the most exposed to stroke risk. Therefore, it is important to know the real prevalence of ISH, in order to predict the possible incidence of cercbrovascular disease in the elderly population. In the Camerano study on hypertension, we have verified the prevalence of ISH in the elderly. ISH has been considered clinically when the systolic arterial pressure (SAP) was higher than 160 mmHg, and the diastolic arterial pressure (DAP) was lower than 90 mmHg. In our study population, an ISH prevalence of 11.9% was found in the elderly (above 60 years of age); whereas in the adult population (between 30 and 60 years), it amounted only to 4.5%. Keywords: Isolated systolic hypertension; Aging; Epidemiology 1. Introduction A large number of epidemiological studies have drawn attention to the cardiovas- cular risk associated with systolic blood pressure (SBP) in general, and with isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) in particular (Kannel et al,, 1980; Dustan, 1989; Stamler * Corresponding author, Ccntro Ipertensione Arteriosa, I.N.R.C.A., Via della Montagnola 164, 60121 Ancona, Italy. 0167.4943/95/$09.50 © 1995 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved SSDI 0167-4943(94)00610-J