Managing acute coronary syndromes in the elderly
Kacey A Carroll1, Nicole K Early, Laura V Tsu
1Department of Pharmacy Practice, Shenandoah University Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy, Wincester, Virginia, USA.
Insights
Elderly patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) require specific treatment strategies. Pharmacists can guide evidence-based pharmacotherapy to improve outcomes in this population.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Cardiology
- Clinical Pharmacy Practice
Background:
- Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are prevalent in elderly individuals.
- Elderly patients are often under-represented in clinical trials for ACS.
- Optimal treatment is crucial for reducing morbidity and mortality in geriatric ACS patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current evidence on treating acute coronary syndromes in the elderly.
- To provide pharmacists with guidance on pharmacotherapy for geriatric ACS patients.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive PubMed search up to January 2015.
- Inclusion of original research, reviews, and guidelines on ACS in the elderly.
- Evaluation of relevant literature and references for treatment strategies.
Main Results:
- Current literature highlights the need for appropriate ACS treatment in the elderly.
- Guidance is provided for pharmacists on optimal pharmacotherapy.
- Under-representation of elderly patients in trials necessitates careful review of evidence.
Conclusions:
- Evidence-based pharmacotherapy can improve outcomes for elderly patients with ACS.
- Pharmacists play a key role in guiding appropriate treatment for this demographic.
Objective:
To provide an up-to-date review of the available evidence regarding treatment of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in elderly patients.
Data Source:
A PubMed search of articles published through January 2015 was done using a combination of the following words: acute coronary syndrome, pharmacy, elderly, geriatric, myocardial infarction, beta-blocker, statin, antiplatelet, antithrombin, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, and aspirin.
Study Selection/Data Extraction:
Relevant original research, review articles, and guidelines were assessed for the management of elderly patients with ACS. References from the above literature were also evaluated. Articles were selected for inclusion based on relevance to the topic, detailed methods, and complete results.
Data Synthesis:
Because of the high prevalence of ACS in elderly patients, appropriate treatment is necessary to reduce morbidity and mortality; however, these patients are often under-represented in trials. This article provides a review of the current literature on treatment of ACS in the elderly and provides guidance to pharmacists regarding optimal pharmacotherapy for these patients.
Conclusion:
Appropriate treatment of ACS can help improve outcomes in elderly patients, and the pharmacist can provide guidance regarding evidence-based therapy.
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