Disorders of the cardiovascular system (III)

Abstract

Although ischaemic heart disease is very common in the elderly, occurring in about 20% of men and 12% of women over the age of 65 years, the problem of angina appears to become progressively less as age advances. The reason for this phenomenon is probably largely explained by the fact that with increasing age exercise decreases and ischaemic heart pain is less readily induced. However, many elderly people do expect to take regular exercise and many continue to work. In these patients angina can seriously limit their activities and impair their quality of life. The investigation and management of angina is not significantly different in the elderly from the middle-aged patient.