Acute coronary syndrome among older patients: a review

Murugapathy Veerasamy1, Richard Edwards, Gary Ford

  • 1From the *Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; †Cardiothoracic Centre, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom; and ‡Institute of Ageing and Health, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.

Cardiology in Review
|January 11, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Acute coronary syndrome is a major cause of death in older adults, often linked to comorbidities. This review highlights frailty assessment as crucial for future research and treatment strategies in this population.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Geriatrics
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Ischemic heart disease is the leading global cause of mortality.
  • Increased life expectancy results in an aging population worldwide.
  • Older adults experience higher morbidity and mortality from acute coronary syndrome due to comorbidities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the incidence and prevalence of acute coronary syndrome in older patients.
  • To examine current treatment strategies for acute coronary syndrome in the elderly.
  • To evaluate predictors of adverse outcomes, focusing on frailty.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on acute coronary syndrome in older adults.
  • Analysis of treatment strategies and outcome predictors.
  • Discussion on the impact of frailty and the need for its assessment.

Main Results:

  • Acute coronary syndrome poses a significant threat to the aging population.
  • Age-related comorbidities exacerbate the impact of acute coronary syndrome.
  • Frailty is a key factor influencing adverse outcomes in older patients.

Conclusions:

  • Frailty assessment is essential for managing acute coronary syndrome in older patients.
  • Future research and clinical strategies must incorporate frailty assessment.
  • Improved management strategies are needed to address the challenges of acute coronary syndrome in the elderly.

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