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Cardiovascular risk factors in the elderly

E Casiglia1, P Palatini

  • 1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Clinica Medica 1, University of Padova, Italy.

Journal of Human Hypertension
|October 23, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Cardiovascular risk factors differ in older adults. "Minor" indicators like serum uric acid strongly predict mortality, unlike typical "major" factors such as blood pressure in the elderly.

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Cardiology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Established cardiovascular risk factors are well-documented in younger populations.
  • Data on cardiovascular disease risk factors in the elderly are scarce and their predictive value is less understood.
  • Older adults exhibit a distinct risk profile compared to younger individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence and importance of cardiovascular risk factors in the elderly.
  • To identify reliable predictors of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in older populations.
  • To inform clinical practice regarding cardiovascular risk assessment in geriatric patients.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on cardiovascular risk factors in elderly populations.
  • Analysis of epidemiological data focusing on geriatric cohorts.
  • Comparison of the predictive value of traditional versus non-traditional risk factors for cardiovascular outcomes in the elderly.

Main Results:

  • Traditional major risk factors like blood pressure and total cholesterol show diminished predictive power for cardiovascular mortality in the elderly, particularly at advanced ages.
  • Factors often considered 'minor' in younger individuals, such as serum uric acid, ventilatory function, and proteinuria, demonstrate significant predictive value for cardiovascular mortality in older adults.
  • Left ventricular hypertrophy's role as a predictor of cardiovascular mortality is less clear in the elderly compared to younger cohorts.

Conclusions:

  • Cardiovascular risk assessment in the elderly requires a shift in focus from traditional risk factors to indicators like serum uric acid, ventilatory function, and proteinuria.
  • Recognizing the distinct risk profiles in older adults is crucial to prevent overtreatment of conditions like mildly elevated blood pressure or cholesterol.
  • Future research should validate these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms driving these age-specific risk factor associations.

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