Age and Sex Differences of Blood Pressure in Old Age

Abstract

Blood pressure levels in old age, ranged from 63 to 90 years, are reported with special reference to age and sex differences. Data were cross-sectionally collected from the medical examination for the aged at a certain hospital in Tokyo, consisting of 360 men and 500 women who had been under no medical treatment for hypertensive diseases. Blood pressure was recorded with right upper arm at heart level in the sitting position after the subject rested a few minutes quietly. Age difference was examined using the regression analysis of blood pressure on age. This revealed that the systolic blood pressure for females and the pulse pressure for both sexes were signifi-cantly higher in older age groups. Comparison of mean values between both sexes showed the higher level of diastolic blood pressure in males and of pulse pressure in females. Including earlier findings by other investigators, a tendency of blood pressure change in old age is discussed.