[Demographic trends: implications for prevention in the female population]

All industralized countries face increasing numbers of elderly, and very elderly, populations. They also observe a feminization of ageing and growing prevalences of chronic conditions. The first goal of prevention in the elderly population is to avoid or delay functional impairments resulting from chronic conditions in order to improve the quality of life and contain health care costs. Secondary prevention (e.g. treatment of hypertension, hormonotherapy) in high risk groups and tertiary prevention based on a systematic assessment of functional impairments are discussed.