Age-related differences in the use of cardiac medications in patients with coronary artery disease.
BACKGROUND
Benefits of aspirin and beta-blocker use in patients with coronary artery disease and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in those with left ventricular systolic dysfunction are well documented in all age groups.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether aspirin, beta-blockers, and ACE inhibitors are equally used in geriatric (> or =65 years) versus younger (<65 years) patients with coronary artery disease.


METHODS
University-affiliated major academic hospital.


METHODS
Records of 402 patients with coronary artery disease were analyzed for use of aspirin, beta-blockers, and ACE inhibitors. One hundred thirty patients with contraindications to use of these agents were excluded.


RESULTS
Of 272 study patients, 85% were using aspirin and 71% beta-blockers. Among the patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction, 79% were using ACE inhibitors. One hundred forty-seven patients were of geriatric age, whereas 125 were of younger age. No significant difference in the use of aspirin (82% versus 89%, P = 0.10), beta-blockers (71% versus 70%, P = 0.85), or ACE inhibitors (86% versus 69%, P = 0.13) was found between geriatric and younger patients. This lack of difference in use of cardiac medications between geriatric and younger patients persisted on gender-based subgroup analysis. On decade-of-age-based analysis, aspirin use was not equally distributed among all the decades of age (P < 0.005), but beta-blocker use was.


CONCLUSIONS
Results of this study demonstrate equal use of aspirin, beta-blockers, and ACE inhibitors in geriatric versus younger patients with coronary artery disease. Aspirin use was not equally distributed among all the decades of age.
Mehta
R N
RN
Division of Geriatric Medicine, Long Island College Hospital, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
Khan
I A
IA
Mehta
N J
NJ
Ryschon
K L
KL
Vasavada
B C
BC
Sacchi
T J
TJ
Mendoza
C
C
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D001241:Aspirin