title: Mechanisms of arrhythmias and conduction disorders in older adults.
abstract: Aging is associated with an increased prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias, which contribute to higher morbidity and mortality in the elderly. The frequency of cardiac arrhythmias, particularly atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachyarrhythmia, is projected to increase as the population ages, greatly impacting health care resource utilization. Several clinical factors associated with the risk of arrhythmias have been identified in the population, yet the molecular bases for the increased predisposition to arrhythmogenesis in the elderly are not fully understood. This review highlights the epidemiology of cardiac dysrhythmias, changes in cardiac structure and function associated with aging, and the basis for arrhythmogenesis in the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Center for Integrative Research on Cardiovascular Aging (CIRCA), Aurora University of Wisconsin Medical Group, Aurora Health Care, 3033 South 27th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53215, USA.
authors.forename: Mahek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mirza
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Strunets
authors.forename: Win-Kuang
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Arshad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jahangir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence