[Multicenter study of elderly patients assisted at outpatient cardiology and geriatrics clinics in Brazilian institutions].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of elderly patients with cardiovascular disease in Brazil.


METHODS
Elderly patients with cardiovascular disease treated in 36 centers of cardiology and geriatrics were investigated through a questionnaire applied to those who had an appointment during the analyzed period.


RESULTS
2196 elderly patients ranging from 65 to 96 years of age were analyzed, 60% of which were females. The main risk factors were: sedentarism (74%); high blood pressure (53%), high LDL-cholesterol (33%), high total cholesterol (30%), obesity (30%), low HDL-cholesterol (15%), diabetes (13%) and smoking (6%). A higher prevalence of females existed among those with > or = 3 risk factors. The main reason for the medical appointment was high blood pressure (48%). Stress test and coronariography were requested more often in males. The most common diagnoses were hypertension (67%), and coronary disease (29%). The most often used medications were diuretics (42%).


CONCLUSIONS
There was high prevalence of risk factors (93%), mainly in females; sedentarism was the most common risk factor and prevalence increased with age; hypertension was the most common reason for a medical appointment. Diuretics were the most used drugs; congestive heart failure was the main disease associated to hospitalization (31%) and emergencies (10%).
Taddei
C F
CF
Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia, São Paulo.
Ramos
L R
LR
de Moraes
J C
JC
Wajngarten
M
M
Libberman
A
A
Santos
S C
SC
Savioli
F
F
Dioguardi
G
G
Franken
R
R
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001938:Brazil; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
Estudo multicêntrico de idosos atendidos em ambulatórios de cardiologia e geriatria de instituições Brasileiras.