[Cardiovascular pharmacotherapy in the aged].
Prevalence of cardiovascular diseases increases with advancing age. Moreover, these patients are getting older and older. Therefore, pharmacotherapy of the elderly becomes a major objective in clinical cardiology. Pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic changes in the elderly can interfere with a sufficient treatment of cardiovascular diseases and moreover, multiple drug usage is a considerable risk factor of possible drug-drug interactions. Furthermore, treatment of cardiovascular diseases as hypertension, heart failure or coronary heart disease in the elderly according to the international guidelines is often limited due to co-morbidities restricting usage of the appropriate medication. This review addresses both, the treatment of cardiovascular diseases in the elderly and the pharmacological characteristics of frequently used drugs.
Baumhäkel
M
M
Innere Medizin III, Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Universitätskliniken des Saarlandes, Homburg. magnus@baumhaekel.de
Böhm
M
M
D000368:Aged; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors
D002317:Cardiovascular Agents