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The Care of Elderly Patients with Cardiovascular Disease
- Nanette K. Wenger, MD;
- Robert A. O'Rourke, MD; and
- Frank I. Marcus, MD
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is a major clinical problem in the elderly, with coronary heart disease the most frequent cause of death and with hypertension present in as many as 50% of these patients. The cardiovascular manifestations of aging must be differentiated from those due to disease. There are clinical manifestations and responses to therapy in the elderly that differ from those in younger patients. The extent of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures undertaken should be based on the patient's physiologic age, the presence and severity of concomitant diseases, mental status and cognitive ability, and the patient's expectations from medical care. Preventive approaches are also warranted.
Article and Author Information
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From Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas; and University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona. For current author addresses, see end of text.
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This article was based on the 18th Bethesda Conference of the American College of Cardiology, "Cardiovascular Disease in the Elderly." This summary was derived, with permission, from the conference proceedings (17).
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Requests for Reprints: Dave Field, American College of Cardiology, 9111 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD 20814.
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Current Author Addresses: Dr. Wenger: Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30303.
Dr. Marcus: University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, AZ 85724.
Dr. O'Rourke: The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78284-7872.
- ©1988 American College of Physicians
