Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction in Older Adults

Abstract

Preventing cardiovascular events in older persons presents unique challenges to clinicians. Cardiovascular disease accounts for a large amount of disability and mortality in older persons. Older persons are often faced with unique and multiple challenges to health, including cognitive decline, social isolation, financial constraints, and physical disabilities. As more and more older persons are enrolled in studies that aim to better understand coronary heart disease and its prevention, new information is becoming available that allow clinicians to improve outcomes in the older adult. The most recent updates in the area of medical management, as well as updates of recommendations for lifestyle changes, including physical activity and dietary recommendations for older persons at risk, are presented in this article.

Apolipoprotein E polymorphism, life stress and self-reported health among older adults

“…Older people with poorer health may have smoked previously but stopped smoking before the data collection window. Individuals who had chronic health conditions may be more likely to take seriously the risks associated with smoking and consequently may be less likely to smoke 54. This suggests a need for caution when interpreting data on cigarette smoking as an indicator of health behaviour among older populations.…”

Hypertension and Diabetes Prevalence in Older Persons in Jamaica, 2012

“…It is the level of severity of the chronic disease and its associated complications which are actually costly (9,27). This highlights the importance of promoting prevention at all ages (including after age 60 years) to reduce the impact and cost of NCDs (28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35). Given that every 10% increase in NCDs is estimated to lower annual economic growth by 0.5% (20), the need for NCD prevention, especially in the rapidly growing older population, is substantial.…”

Effects of age, gender and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on taste acuity

“…Issues concerning older people have been gaining importance as the number of elderly continues to increase (Arthur 2006;Klieman et al 2006). In the USA, persons aged 65 years and older numbered more than 36 million in 2004, or about one in every eight adults.…”