Calcific aortic stenosis in the elderly: a brief overview.
Aortic stenosis is the most common valvular lesion in patients above the age of 65. The etiology, presentation, and management of aortic stenosis differs in the elderly compared to younger patients in many ways. Many of the classic physical findings are absent in the elderly, making the diagnosis of critical aortic stenosis more difficult. Due to coexisting morbidity in many elderly patients, there is often a reluctance to recommend aortic valve replacement despite the dismal prognosis of medical therapy. In the following review, the authors discuss the pathophysiology, presentation, and management of aortic stenosis in the elderly.
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, UCSD Medical Center, San Diego, CA 92103-8411, USA.
Neil
N
Sawhney
Alborz
A
Hassankhani
Barry H
BH
Greenberg
D000368:Aged; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans