Public health options for improving cardiovascular health among older Americans.
Life expectancy at birth has increased from 74 years in 1980 to 78 years in 2006. Older adults (aged 65 years and older) are living longer with cardiovascular conditions, which are leading causes of death and disability and thus an important public health concern. We describe several major issues, including the impact of comorbidities, the role of cognitive health, prevention and intervention approaches, and opportunities for collaboration to strengthen the public health system. Prevention can be effective at any age, including for older adults. Public health models focusing on policy, systems, and environmental change approaches have the goal of providing social and physical environments and promoting healthy choices.
Division of Population Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. keg9@cdc.gov
Kurt J
KJ
Greenlund
Nora L
NL
Keenan
Paula F
PF
Clayton
Dilip K
DK
Pandey
Yuling
Y
Hong
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003072:Cognition Disorders; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods*; D055818:Public-Private Sector Partnerships