Older people ‘need specific approach to reduce cardiovascular disease risk’

Older patients are not too old to benefit from preventive cardiovascular therapy, but require specifically individualised treatment approaches.

This is according to a new study published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, which reviewed existing available evidence and concluded that cholesterol-lowering and blood pressure-controlling therapy are the most effective treatments for reducing cardiovascular events in older adults.

It was observed that elderly patients' baseline level of risk and subsequent relative risk reduction with appropriate therapy may be higher than in younger patients. Prevention can help to improve their health and reduce future healthcare costs.

Other interventions shown to reduce the risk of heart disease in older patients included smoking cessation, physical activity and keeping a normal body weight.

Senior author Dr Michelle Graham, a professor of medicine at the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute and University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, said: "Prevention of a first cardiovascular event in elderly patients should be individualised based on consideration of the current evidence, as well as goals of therapy, functionality and/or frailty, comorbidities, and concomitant medications."