Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors for systemic hypertension in young and elderly patients.

Whereas many physicians have been reluctant to treat hypertension in the elderly because of perceived limited benefits and the risk of side effects associated with traditional antihypertensive agents such as diuretics and beta blockers, studies and clinical experience have shown that elderly as well as younger patients can benefit from treatment. In recent years, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have been found to be safe and effective in both young and elderly hypertensive patients without many of the adverse effects associated with traditional agents. ACE inhibitors possess characteristics that meet many of the special needs of elderly patients, including reduction of left ventricular mass, lack of metabolic and lipid disturbances, no central nervous system effects, no risk of induction of cardiac failure, and low risk of orthostatic hypotension.