[Quality of life in elderly with atherosclerotic diseases]

To maintain the good quality of life in elderly, it is important to diagnose and asymptomatic advanced or prone to rupture atherosclerosis by using non-invasive techniques and it is also important to treat and prevent the progression of atherosclerotic disease. Comprehensive geriatric assessment is useful for maintain the good quality of life as well as evaluation of activity of daily life. Treadmill exercise test which protocol was arranged for Japanese elderly revealed high incidences of coronary ischemia susceptible patients in elderly diabetic patients. Concomitant measurement of blood pressure of lower extremities is also useful for early diagnosis of arteriosclerosis obliterence. Vascular endocrinological examination such as brain natriuretic peptide is expectable for early diagnosis of latent impairment of cardiac function. Evaluation of endothelial function by measuring flow mediated dilatation and evaluation of narrowing carotid artery by using ultrasound echocardiograph is useful. These examinations are expectable for future treatment of elderly patients.