title: Benefits and pitfalls of cardiovascular medication in seniors.
abstract: Authors analyze actual situation in treatment of cardiovascular diseases in older patients. Different groups of recommended drugs are discussed separately; possible risks for elderly patients are stressed. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors-this group is widely used in older patients because of their hypotensive effect, positive influence on cardiac failure, and positive modulation of endothelial dysfunction. The risk of hyperkalemia must be considered. Antiaggregants and anticoagulants are proved as potent prophylactic treatment, but the associated risk of gastrointestinal bleeding must be weighed very carefully. Bradycardia related to β-blockers, especially in combination with other medications lowering the heart rate must be taken into account. Otherwise, this group brings the highest profit in cardiovascular diseases as for morbidity and mortality. Attention is paid to calcium channel blockers, statins, diuretics, nitrates, and digoxin. A table listing the possible side effects and clinical symptoms of overdose by medications most frequently used in the elderly concludes the article.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics and Practical Medicine, Masaryk University Faculty of Medicine and Brno Faculty Hospital, Czech Republic. hkubes@med.muni.cz
authors.forename: Hana Matejovska
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kubesova
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meluzinova
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bielakova
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matejovsky
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents