Cardiovascular

Hypertension remains widely prevalent and a significant determinant of cardiovascular risk in the elderly population. Several large controlled trials have shown the benefits of treating hypertension in the elderly, including octogenarians.…

In the UK, hypertension affects around 20% of the adult population and is particularly prevalent in the elderly population. With new clinical guidance from NICE due to be published this year, this article looks at the landmark HYVET trial…

The prevalence of type-2 diabetes is rapidly increasing with up to a quarter of people over 60 years of age affected by it. To reduce the risk of the associated microvascular and macrovascular complications, national guidelines for…

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a presenting feature of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus in the elderly. The diagnosis and management of new onset diabetes is discussed along with the challenges in an older age group. It is important that…

Optimal care of older patients is a challenge for evidence-based medicine. In the past, older patients have tended to be under represented in clinical trials and are more vulnerable to harm from their medications. As age increases, patients…

As new therapies become available for type-2 diabetes, healthcare professionals will not only have to make difficult clinical decisions but also cope with the demands from patients for these treatments.

Syncope in the elderly population is a complex and often ill understood entity. Therefore, its diagnosis and management can prove to be challenging. This challenge is of particular relevance for the general practitioner, who is frequently…

Temporary transvenous pacing (TTVP) is an emergency procedure frequently performed in the elderly. An apparent decline in its use, which appears to be multifactorial, has led to its role in a district general hospital (DGH) to be…

An extensive database has firmly established the efficacy of several therapeutic interventions following myocardial infarction including their effectiveness in elderly people. Several guidelines are available to guide clinicians and…

Coronary heart disease (CHD) incorporates a range of conditions including chronic stable angina, acute coronary syndromes and myocardial infarction. Chronic stable angina pectoris is a common problem in the UK, with a prevalence of just…

Not only are people with atrial fibrillation more likely to have a stroke than people without the condition, they are also more likely to have a fatal or disabling stroke. Therefore in this population, stroke prevention is vital.…

Postprandial hypotension is commonly defined as the decrease in systolic blood pressure of 20mmHg or more observed within two hours after meal ingestion. It is very common in the elderly especially in those living in long term healthcare…

Aortic stenosis (AS) is a narrowing or obstruction of the aortic valve and is the third most prevalent form of cardiovascular disease in the Western world after hypertension and coronary artery disease. AS is a potentially life-threatening…

The number of older people having surgery is increasing and geriatrician involvement is being increasingly sought. This article uses guidance from the European Society of Cardiology1 and the American College of Cardiology to provide a…

Hypokalaemia is one of the most common electrolyte abnormalities encountered in clinical practice. The most common cause of renal loss of potassium in primary care is use of loop or thiazide diuretics. Extra-renal causes include fasting or…