[The epidemiology of coronary artery disease in older than 75 years].
The coronary artery disease related death has dramatically decreased during these 20 last years. All age ranges took benefit from the prognostic improvement of coronary artery disease. People aged over 75 years are an interesting age group to be studied, since the coronary disease-related mortality has been reduced in younger subjects, as well as French population aging. The epidemiological indicators presented in this article are those classically described in general epidemiology, namely mortality, incidence and prevalence. Since several years, the coronary disease-related mortality and incidence decrease in subjects aged over 75 years. However, a coronary artery disease prevalence increase is noted among subjects older than 75 years. Regarding to the aging of French population, the increasing prevalence of chronic coronary disease in the elderly is of major concern. A transition from acute forms to more chronic forms of coronary disease in the elderly is highly probable. Different actors of health should be prepared for this hypothesis.
Ferrières
J
J
Unité de prévention de I'athérosclérose et Inserm U558, service de cardiologie B, CHU Rangueil, TSA 50032, 31059 Toulouse. jean.ferrieres@cict.fr
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence