RT Journal
A1 Goodwin JS
T1 Gait speed: Comment on “rethinking the association of high blood pressure with mortality in elderly adults”
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 2012
FD August 13
VO 172
IS 15
SP 1168
OP 1169
DO 10.1001/archinternmed.2012.2642
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2012.2642
AB 
In 1988, Matilla et al1 reported that, among the very old, elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) were associated with longer survival. The differences were not subtle. The 5-year survival of those with systolic BPs greater than 200 mm Hg were almost twice as high as those with levels of 120 to 140 mm Hg. Over the ensuing 25 years, a substantial number of population-based studies have reported the same findings: in those older than 85 years (or older than 80 years in some studies), high BP is an excellent prognostic sign.2- 3