To investigate longitudinal changes in systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) between age 70 and 90, and to analyse the relationship between blood pressure changes after 70 and survival in two representative population samples (n = 973 and n = 1036).
In the total population sample, SBP increased up to age 75 and declined thereafter. In survivors up to 90, SBP increased up to age 79 and decreased thereafter. DBP decreased after 70. Up to age 82, women had higher SBP and DBP than men. Low SBP at 70 and 75 were correlated to longer survival in both sexes. The relation between blood pressure peak and survival up to age 90 was analysed in 424 men and 640 women, all examined at 70, 75 and 79 years. Twenty-six per cent of men and 44% of women with the highest SBP at 79 survived up to 90 years compared with 15% of men and 31% of women with the highest SBP at 70. SBP and DBP at age 90 were higher in survivors up to age 93 compared with non-survivors.
Low blood pressure at 70 and late SBP peak were related to longer survival after age 79.