Primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease in the elderly

RESUMO

Cardiovascular disease is the commonest cause of death and hospitalization in patients 65 years of age or older. The main offenders among the cardiovascular disorders in this age are CHD and hypertension. Many non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic measures in the middle-aged persons have confirmed for many years the effectiveness of primary and secondary prevention. Multiple intervention trials in the recent years have also demonstrated the effectiveness of these measures in patients 65 years of age and older. A summary of the main primary and secondary non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic measures that have been proven to be effective and useful in elderly patients has been presented with particular attention to hypertension and CHD. It also has been demonstrated that elderly patients have the capacity to follow the instructions of their physicians and that, as younger patients, they respond to these measures: