Coronary artery disease in elderly patients

ABSTRACT

The prevalence of coronary artery disease [CAD] and its associated morbidity and mortality increase as age advances. Our study was aimed at analyzing the demographics, risk factors, presentation and mortality of CAD among geriatric patients admitted at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. A total of 200 patients, aged 60 years and above, admitted consecutively to various departments were included in the study. CAD was present in 81[40.5%] patients, 45 [55.5%] females and 36 [45.5%] males. Following risk factors were found in the CAD patients hypertension in 59[89.8%], diabetes mellitus in 36[58.1%], dyslipidemia in 4[5%], cardiac failure in 21[25.9%] stable angina in 15[18.5%] 9[11.2%] had unstable angina; 32 [39.5%] suffered from acute myocardial infarction, symptomatic in 17[21%] and silent in 15[18.5%]. Seven [53.9%] patients who died were suffering from CAD. We concluded that carrying a high index of suspicion in the elderly, even in asymptomatic patients, with early identification and treatment of risk factors might improve the prognosis of CAD in this age group