Epidemiologic considerations in cardiovascular diseases in the elderly: international comparisons and trends

As developed countries experience an "aging" of their populations, concern over cardiovascular disease, an important cause of death in the elderly, has grown. Improvements in the mortality rates of ischemic heart disease have been observed over the last 10 or 15 years in many nations, including Australia, the United States, Canada and Belgium. In other countries, mortality rates have remained unchanged and in some Eastern European countries, mortality rates have increased. In most instances where mortality rates have decreased, the reduction has been observed in both genders and has occurred across a wide age grouping, even in those aged 75 years and older. Truly representative data on risk factors for cardiovascular disease in the elderly are difficult to find; a new study has commenced in Australia and may provide more information.