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Epidemiology
Aging + CV
- 65+: 60-80% have some CV disease
- 85+: > 80%
- Aging is largest risk factor for HF, AF, AS, CAD
- Taiwan 2024: > 65 yo population ⥠20%; rapidly aging
Disease Burden
- HF: most common cause of hospitalization in elderly
- AF: ~ 10% in 80+
- AS: 5-7% > 75 yo (moderate-severe)
- HTN: 65% > 65 yo
- Stroke: top 3 cause of death + disability
Physiologic Changes With Aging
Cardiovascular System
- Arterial stiffening: â elastin, â collagen â â PWV â isolated systolic HTN, wide pulse pressure
- LV hypertrophy (mild concentric)
- Diastolic dysfunction: â early filling, â atrial contraction; precursor to HFpEF
- Myocardial fibrosis: subclinical, â amyloid (ATTR-CM in 25% of HFpEF > 80)
- â β-adrenergic responsiveness: blunted HR response, â contractility reserve
- Baroreflex impairment: â orthostatic hypotension
- Autonomic dysfunction: â HRV
- Atrial remodeling: AF, atrial flutter
Vascular Changes
- â NO bioavailability
- â Vascular calcification (medial calcinosis vs intimal in atherosclerosis)
- Diastolic â blood pressure (late stage)
Other Aging Issues
- â Renal function (eGFR â ~ 1 mL/min/year after 30s, faster > 60)
- â Lung function
- Sarcopenia, frailty
- Cognitive decline
- Sensory impairment (vision, hearing)
Major CV Diseases in Elderly
Hypertension
- Isolated systolic HTN (ISH): SBP > 140, DBP < 90; most common pattern in elderly
- Mechanism: arterial stiffening
- Treatment:
- SPRINT (2015) + SPRINT-Senior: < 120 SBP target benefit even in elderly (but caution orthostasis)
- STEP (2021): Chinese elderly, < 130 vs < 150 â â CV events
- 2024 ACC/AHA: target < 130/80; individualize for frail
- Start low, go slow; check standing BP
- Watch for orthostatic hypotension (fall risk)
- Drugs:
- First-line: CCB + thiazide-like (chlorthalidone) â work well in elderly
- ACEi/ARB: add-on
- β-blocker: only for specific indications
- Avoid α-blockers (orthostasis)
Heart Failure
- HFpEF predominant in elderly (60-70% of HF in 80+)
- HFrEF also common
- Phenotypes complex
- ATTR-CM (transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis) in 13-25% of HFpEF > 80
- PYP scan for screening
- Tafamidis treatment (ATTR-ACT)
- GDMT in elderly:
- ARNI/ACEi/ARB
- β-blocker
- MRA
- SGLT2i
- Cautious dosing, monitor renal/K
- CRT, ICD considerations modified by life expectancy
- Cardiac rehab beneficial (REHAB-HF 2021)
Atrial Fibrillation
- Prevalence â steeply with age (1-2% < 60, 10-15% > 80)
- Anticoagulation crucial for stroke prevention
- CHAâDSâ-VASc (age ⥠65 = 1 point; ⥠75 = 2)
- HAS-BLED for bleeding risk (age > 65 = 1)
- DOACs preferred over warfarin in most (ELDERCARE-AF for edoxaban low-dose)
- Rate control (β-blocker, digoxin) often better than rhythm in elderly
- Catheter ablation still beneficial in select elderly
- Cardioversion + anticoagulation crucial
Aortic Stenosis
- 5-7% > 75 yo
- TAVR has revolutionized treatment for elderly
- All risk levels Class I ⥠65 yo in 2024 update
- Frailty + life expectancy assessment
- EARLY-TAVR (2024): consider earlier intervention
Coronary Artery Disease
- Common in elderly
- Atypical presentation often (dyspnea-equivalent, fatigue)
- âSilentâ MI more common
- ACS management same principles + adjusted dosing
- PCI risk-benefit weighed in frail patients
- CABG outcomes worse with age, frailty
- Statin: still beneficial (PROVE-IT, HOPE-3 elderly subgroups)
- Antiplatelet: bleeding risk consideration
Stroke
- Top cause of disability
- AF-related cardioembolic stroke common in elderly
- Anticoagulation key prevention
- IV tPA / mechanical thrombectomy benefits elderly
- Post-stroke rehab + secondary prevention
Geriatric Assessment
Frailty
- Definition: state of vulnerability to stressors
- Tools:
- Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) 1-9 (1 very fit â 9 terminally ill)
- Edmonton Frail Scale
- Fried Frailty Phenotype: 5 criteria (slow gait, weak grip, weight loss, exhaustion, low activity)
- Gait speed alone (slow < 0.8 m/s) â independent CV mortality predictor
- Affects:
- TAVR vs SAVR decision (high frailty â TAVR)
- PCI vs CABG vs OMT
- Goals of care, palliative
- Drug dosing
- Procedural risk
Functional Status
- ADL (Activities of Daily Living)
- IADL (Instrumental ADL)
- Cognitive function (MMSE, MoCA)
- Depression screening (PHQ-9, GDS)
Polypharmacy
- ⥠5 medications very common
- Drug-drug interactions
- Adherence issues
- Cognitive impairment + memory
- Deprescribing when appropriate
- STOPP/START criteria (geriatric specific)
Orthostatic Hypotension
Definition
- â SBP ⥠20 OR DBP ⥠10 within 3 min of standing
- âInitialâ (immediate), âclassicâ (3 min), âdelayedâ (> 3 min)
- Symptoms: dizziness, syncope, fall risk
Causes
- Volume depletion (dehydration, diuretics)
- Medications (α-blockers, vasodilators, diuretics, antidepressants)
- Autonomic dysfunction (DM, Parkinson, MSA)
- Cardiac (HF)
- Deconditioning
Management
- Adjust medications
- Compression stockings
- Increase Na, fluid (if not HF/HTN)
- Sleep with HOB elevated
- Pharmacologic: fludrocortisone, midodrine, droxidopa
Procedural Considerations in Elderly
TAVR
- All risk levels Class I in elderly
- Frailty informs benefit
- Vascular access (calcification)
- Stroke risk (3-5%)
- Permanent pacer risk (5-15%)
CABG
- Worse outcomes than younger
- Combined valve + CABG: high risk
- Off-pump alternative in select
- Hybrid approaches emerging
PCI
- Generally safe in elderly
- Bleeding risk higher (radial preferred)
- DOAC + DAPT considerations in elderly + AF + ACS
Cardiac Surgery
- Frailty assessment essential
- Mortality + morbidity â with age
- Delirium common post-op (40-60%)
- ICU + rehab needs longer
Anesthesia
- Reduced doses
- Slower onset/offset
- Avoid benzodiazepines (delirium, fall)
- Multimodal analgesia
Polypharmacy + Deprescribing
High-Yield Geriatric Pharmacotherapy
- Anticholinergic burden: avoid (cognition, fall, delirium)
- Benzodiazepines: avoid (delirium, fall)
- NSAIDs: AKI, HTN, bleeding
- PPI long-term: bone health, B12, magnesium
- Statins: continue if tolerated; benefit confirmed in elderly
Cardiovascular Drug Adjustments
- ACEi/ARB: half-doses, watch K+, Cr
- Diuretics: cautious, monitor electrolytes
- β-blocker: bradycardia, hypotension risk
- DOAC: dose-adjust for renal function, body weight, age
- Digoxin: dose by renal function, monitor levels
End-of-Life Considerations
Advance Care Planning
- Discussions on goals of care
- Code status
- DNR/DNI
- POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment)
- Family discussions
Palliative Cardiology
- HF palliation
- ICD deactivation when goals shift
- Symptom management (dyspnea, edema, pain)
- Hospice referral
𩺠åºé鿥
- Aging CV physiology: arterial stiffening, â baroreflex, â β-response, diastolic dysfunction
- HFpEF predominant in elderly (ATTR-CM 13-25% of HFpEF > 80)
- AF anticoagulation: DOAC preferred; donât avoid AC due to age alone (bleeding risk vs stroke benefit)
- TAVR ⥠65 all risk levels (2024)
- Frailty assessment (CFS, gait speed) â guides interventions
- Polypharmacy + Beers/STOPP for deprescribing
- Orthostatic hypotension: â SBP ⥠20 / DBP ⥠10 in 3 min