Use of cardiovascular drugs by home-dwelling coronary patients aged 75 years and older. A population-based cross-sectional survey in Helsinki, Finland.
OBJECTIVE
Elderly individuals constitute an increasing proportion of coronary patients, and up-to-date information is needed of their treatments in the community.


METHODS
A random sample of 75-, 80-, 85-, 90- and 95-year-old residents (n = 3,921) of Helsinki, Finland, was studied during 1998-1999. They were sent a postal questionnaire with questions about health, diseases and current drug use.


RESULTS
The response rate of home-dwelling elderly persons was 78% (n = 2,511). Of men and women, 75.8% and 79.8%, respectively, had some regular medication (P< 0.05 between genders). Of home-dwelling individuals with coronary heart disease (CHD, n = 717, 28.6%), 61.0% of women and 68.3% of men used aspirin, 58.4% and 52.9% nitrates, 54.7% and 52.4% beta-blockers, 20.0% and 13.7% (angiontensin-converting enzyme) ACE inhibitors and 25.1% and 21.1% calcium-channel blockers. Only 14.3% and 19.4% were on cholesterol-lowering drugs. The difference in ACE inhibitor, diuretic and digoxin use was statistically significant (P < 0.05) between genders (women used more).


CONCLUSIONS
Cardiovascular drug use is very common among the oldest age cohorts, but assuming that knowledge from younger individuals applies, there is a suboptimal use of several evidence-based treatments, especially lipid-lowering drugs, aspirin and beta-blockers in elderly coronary patients.
Strandberg
T E
TE
Department of Medicine, Geriatric Clinic, University of Helsinki, Finland. timo.strandberg@hus.fi
Pitkala
K
K
Kulp
S
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Tilvis
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RS
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D002317:Cardiovascular Agents