Determinants of Cardiovascular Diseases in the Elderly

Abstract

The roles of age, gender, diet, plasma lipoproteins, blood pressure, smoking, physical activity, alcohol consumption and psychosocial factors as determinants of cardiovascular diseases have been studied mainly in the middle aged but little in the elderly. The risk factor status of glucose intolerance, body weight, and the physical and chemical environment has been less firmly established. This review examines the published evidence, emphasising the potential of extending the prevention of cardiovascular diseases beyond 60.

Risk factors for atherosclerosis in an elderly out patient population in the City of São Paulo

“…Most of the research, however, involves individuals of middle age and, more specifically, white males 8 . More recently, population studies have been aiming at the behavior of risk factors in the elderly, and some of these studies have cast doubt on their importance at this age 1,2,[9][10][11][12] . The goal of the present study was analyze in elderly individuals of both sexes the prevalence of the major risk factors and their correlation with atherosclerotic complications.…”

“…Cardiovascular disease as a complication of atherosclerosis is today the most important cause of morbidity and mortality among elderly people especially in the developed countries [1][2][3] . Although in the earlier decades of life women have a lower prevalence of cardiovascular disease, the latter increases with age, reaching a similar level to that of men around the age of 75 4-6 .…”

Rationale for a Primary Prevention Study Using Low‐Dose Aspirin To Prevent Coronary and Cerebrovascular Disease in the Elderly

“…Stroke is a particularly important cause of disabilile in the elderly because of the high prevalence of disability in survivors. Approximately half are unable to walk unaided, and one‐third are severely handicapped and require nursing supervision 3 …”