[Secondary prevention in the elderly or very elderly patient: indications, limitations and...perspectives].
Cardiovascular diseases are the principal cause of death in the developed countries. This is particularly true in the elderly despite the medical advances in the diagnosis and management of coronary artery disease. Although secondary prevention is a keystone in the management of young patients, this is too often absent in the elderly. However, the elderly may benefit at least as much as the younger patient population with respect to the correction of major risk factors such as dyslipidaemia, smoking and hypertension. Similarly, physical exercise, if possible, which is usually the case, should be proposed and encouraged. Patient education is an important factor in the management of autonomous elderly patients. The tolerance and observance of treatment must be systematic and regularly assessed. A multidisciplinary approach associating the cardiologist, general practitioner, geriatrician if possible and also nursing personnel, is probably one of the conditions for optimal management of secondary prevention of our elderly patients.
Jourdain
P
P
Service de cardiologie, CH René-Dubos, 6, avenue de l'lle-de-France, 95300 Pontoise. Patrick.jourdain@ch-pontoise.fr
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D012307:Risk Factors