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IntroductionThe rapid growth of the elderly population in industrialized countries has led to an increased incidence of hypertension and hypertension-related cardiovascular diseases (1, 2). The management of hypertension in the elderly has therefore assumed new importance. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) increases steadily with age, whereas diastolic blood pressure (DBP) increases until 55 years and then declines (3). In the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) study, isolated systolic hypertension was present in 65% of all hypertensive patients older than 60 years (1). SBP is a more important predictor of target organ damage than DBP in the elderly (4).Recent guidelines for the management of hypertension rec-*The details of the JATOS study group are shown in the Appendix. Address for Reprints: Masao Ishii, M.D., the Yokohama Seamen's Insurance Hospital, 43−1, Kamadai-cho,