Abstract-Isolated systolic hypertension is predominantly observed in the elderly because of increased arterial stiffness.Aggressive treatment leads to excessive lowering of diastolic blood pressure and favors the presence of a J-shaped curve association with mortality. We investigated whether, in the elderly, this pattern of association is a simple epiphenomenon of increased arterial stiffness and impaired cardiac function. In a cohort of 331 hospitalized subjects Ͼ70 years old (mean ageϮSD: 85Ϯ7 years), aortic pulse wave velocity and pressure wave reflections, by pulse wave analysis, and cardiac function, by ultrasound, were assessed. During a 2-year follow-up period, 110 subjects died. No association of prognosis with systolic pressure, pulse pressure, or pulse wave velocity was observed. A J-shaped association between diastolic pressure and overall and cardiovascular mortality was observed. Unadjusted Cox regression analysis showed that patients in the first tertile of diastolic pressure (Յ60 mm Hg) had higher mortality.In Cox regression analysis, diastolic pressure Յ60 mm Hg was a predictor of mortality independently from cardiac-vascular properties, cardiovascular risk factors, and drug treatment. Multivariate regression analysis showed that increased age and low total peripheral resistance, but not left ventricular function, were the cardinal determinants of low diastolic pressure. An "optimal" diastolic pressure of 70 mm Hg in subjects with isolated systolic hypertension was found. We showed that, in the frail elderly, a value of diastolic blood pressure Յ60 mm Hg is associated with reduced survival, independent from large artery stiffness and left ventricular function, suggesting that more rational antihypertensive therapy, not only based on systolic pressure level, is needed. Key Words: diastolic blood pressure Ⅲ mortality Ⅲ elderly Ⅲ arterial stiffness Ⅲ pressure wave reflections Ⅲ total peripheral resistance T he goal of antihypertensive treatment is to prevent cardiovascular (CV) complications through the reduction of systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). However, since the primary work of Cruickshank et al, 1 several reports, but not all, have shown that, in hypertensive subjects treated with drugs, low DBP is frequently associated with increased mortality (reviewed in Reference 2 ). This finding was constantly difficult to evaluate. First, it is difficult in epidemiological studies to assess a J-or U-shaped association with mortality, and it is often easier, using a semilogarithmic scale, to show a linear relation between DBP and mortality. Second, in humans, the decrease of DBP is the consequence of both the aging process 3 and the result of drug treatment, making the net drug effect quite difficult to define. Finally it should be noted that isolated systolic hypertension is difficult to treat and, therefore, aggressive treatment may lead to excessive lowering of diastolic blood pressure and that, in the oldest old, treating high SBP is not always related to reduced overall mortality....

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