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[Epidemiology of cardiovascular diseases in the Spanish elderly population]
Insights
This review examines cardiovascular disease epidemiology in Spain's elderly, highlighting prevalent risk factors and significant morbidity. Data gaps, especially incidence and risk rates from cohort studies, are noted.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Epidemiology
- Geriatrics
Context:
- Focuses on the elderly population in Spain.
- Reviews updated epidemiological information on cardiovascular diseases.
- Addresses both clinical and subclinical cardiovascular conditions.
Purpose:
- To critically review current data on cardiovascular disease epidemiology in Spain's elderly.
- To present the prevalence and distribution of cardiovascular risk factors.
- To highlight the burden of cardiovascular disease in this demographic.
Summary:
- Covers clinical cardiovascular diseases (coronary heart disease, heart failure, cerebrovascular disease) and subclinical markers (left ventricular hypertrophy, carotid stenosis).
- Details major risk factors (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, smoking) and emerging ones (microalbuminuria, abdominal obesity).
- Emphasizes high morbidity, mortality, and handicap rates in the elderly compared to middle-aged individuals.
Impact:
- Underscores the significant health burden of cardiovascular diseases in Spain's aging population.
- Identifies critical gaps in population data, particularly incidence and risk rates from cohort studies.
- Calls for more robust research to inform public health strategies for elderly cardiovascular care.
Abstract:
This paper is a comprehensive and critical review of the updated information available in Spain for the elderly population on the epidemiology of cardiovascular diseases. Clinical (coronary heart disease, heart failure, and cerebrovascular disease) and subclinical (left ventricular hypertrophy, carotid stenosis) cardiovascular diseases are reviewed. Prevalence and distribution of major classical cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus and smoking and information on new risk factors such as microalbuminuria or abdominal obesity are also presented. The article is also focused on the high rates of morbidity, mortality and the burden of handicap in this age group in comparison with middle-aged people. Finally we call attention to the few and inconsistent population data available for some of the mentioned topics in our country, particularly the lack of specific figures of incidence and risk rates from cohort studies of elderly people in Spain.