title: Coronary heart disease risk in people 65 years of age and older.
abstract: Evidence from epidemiologic studies indicates that the same factors that are associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in middle-aged people are relevant in older adults (i.e., those aged >or=65). The relative risk associated with some risk factors decreases with advancing age but this is offset by greater incidence of CHD among older adults. A growing body of evidence from clinical trials indicates that risk factor modification in older adults reduces CHD risk as effectively as it does in middle-aged adults. Multivariable risk assessment can be used to effectively target intervention to those at significant risk for an initial CHD event and to avoid over-treatment. It is important to appreciate that the average remaining life expectancy after achieving 80 years is about 8 years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA. bslev@comcast.net
authors.forename: Barbara S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: William  B
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kannel
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015994:Incidence; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000074606:Smoking Prevention