The patients in the study were prospectively, randomly recruited from the Department of Cardiology and Geriatrics at Khanh Hoa Hospital in Vietnam between May 2000 and May 2001. The cross-sectional study including 258 hypertensive patients with age older than 60 were defined according to the 1999 WHO/ISH criteria. Blood pressure (BP) was measured at rest on the right arm sitting and arm supported at level of heart by a physician or a trained nurse with a mercury sphygmomanometer. Exclusion criteria: secondary hypertension. All subjects were evaluated their risk factors by a comprehensive medical history by a standard questionnaire and a full clinical examination.