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Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in the aged.
American Heart Journal
|September 1, 1978
Summary
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy frequently affects older adults, with symptoms often misdiagnosed. This suggests a potentially more favorable disease course for some patients, impacting clinical management strategies.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Geriatric Medicine
Background:
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is typically associated with younger individuals.
- However, HCM can also present in older populations, often with atypical presentations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in an elderly patient cohort.
- To compare clinical presentations and diagnostic findings of HCM in older versus younger patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 23 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy cases over 2.5 years.
- Inclusion of patients aged 65 years and older.
- Cardiac catheterization and echocardiography for obstructive component assessment.
Main Results:
- 20 of 23 HCM cases were in patients aged 65-76 years.
- 16 of these older patients had obstructive HCM.
- Symptoms were often misattributed to other conditions like aortic stenosis or hypertensive heart disease.
Conclusions:
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is not uncommon in older adults, predominantly females.
- The disease may present with few or no symptoms until late in life.
- Clinical management should consider this potentially indolent course in older patients.