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Heart Disease in the Elderly

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Essential Cardiology

Abstract

Aging is associated with multiple changes throughout the cardiovascular system that substantively impact the incidence, prevalence, clinical presentation, response to treatment, and prognosis of all adult cardiovascular disorders. This chapter reviews the epidemiology of cardiovascular disease in older adults and the effects of normal aging on the cardiovascular system. This is followed by a discussion of traditional and nontraditional cardiovascular risk factors in older adults. The remainder of the chapter reviews current evidence and recommendations for the management of acute and chronic coronary artery disease, valvular disorders, heart failure, and heart rhythm disorders in the elderly. This chapter concludes with a brief discussion of ethical issues and end-of-life care in older patients with cardiovascular disease.

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Recommended Reading

  • Aronow WS, Fleg JL, Rich MW, editors. Cardiovascular disease in the elderly. 4th ed. New York: Informa Healthcare USA, Inc.; 2008.

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  • Gerstenblith G, editor. Cardiovascular disease in the elderly. Totowa: Humana Press, Inc.; 2010.

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  • Gray R, Pack L. Cardiovascular disease in the elderly: a practical manual. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2011.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiovascular Division, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Ave., 8086, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA

    Michael W. Rich MD

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  1. Michael W. Rich MD
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Correspondence to Michael W. Rich MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, The James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Department of Medicine, West Kingsbridge Rd 130, Bronx, 10468, New York, USA

    Clive Rosendorff

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Rich, M.W. (2013). Heart Disease in the Elderly. In: Rosendorff, C. (eds) Essential Cardiology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6705-2_39

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