Systemic arterial hypertension – or simply hypertension, in casual language – is considered the major and most common risk factor for death and disability of non-communicable diseases.^, Its prevalence in Europe ranges from 30% to 45%. In the United States, two thirds of the adults older than 60 years are hypertensive. In South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, hypertension has increased rapidly. Recently, the world prevalence of hypertension was estimated at 31%.

The last three decades have witnessed the development of several effective and safe drugs to treat hypertensives. However, although a blood pressure reduction by only 10 mm Hg in those patients is known to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and stroke by 25-40% throughout life, the threshold value or target value to be achieved in hypertensive adults in general, and in the elderly in particular, is controversial. In addition, several patients remain poorly controlled despite treatment, without reaching the target values of the ESC/ESH Recommendations or those suggested as a result of the SPRINT study.

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