As improvements in living conditions and advances in modern medicine lead to increased life expectancy and the number of older adults world-wide continues to grow, so the number of older individuals with cardiac and cerebrovascular disease is rising. Over eighty per cent of all cardiovascular disease-related deaths now occur in patients aged sixty five or older. The high prevalence of co-morbidities, frailty and cognitive decline amongst older patients requires that a holistic approach to the management of cardiovascular disease is required.

Written and edited by leading experts in the field, Cardiovascular diseases and health in the older patient' provides scholarly evidence and data which explain why treating an older patient with cardiovascular disease is often different from treating a young or middle-aged patient with the same disease. Updated and expanded from the cardiovascular section in the fifth edition of the renowned Pathy's Principles and Practice of Geriatric Medicine', with an additional chapter on tailoring the approach to investigation and management of vascular disease in frail older subjects, as well as updated evidence and references to recent clinical practice guidelines in Europe and North America, this book provides complete, authoritative information on this major cause of death, poor health and disability in old age.

Covering the epidemiology, pathophysiology and management of cardiovascular disease in the older patient, the book is an excellent reference at all clinical and pre-clinical levels and will appeal particularly to geriatricians, cardiologists, and GPs, as well as cardiac specialist nurses and practice nurses


List of Contributors, vii
Foreword, ix

Introduction, xi

1 Epidemiology of Heart Disease, 1
Ahmed H. Abdelhafiz

2 Cardiac Ageing and Systemic Disorders, 29
David J. Stott and Terence J. Quinn

3 Hypertension, 44
Anthony S. Wierzbicki and Adie Viljoen

4 Lipid Management, 68
Adie Viljoen and Anthony S. Wierzbicki

5 Arrhythmias, 90
Abhay Bajpai and A. John Camm

6 Hypotension, 135
Suraj Alakkassery

7 Ischaemic Heart Disease, 152
Wilbert S. Aronow

8 Heart Failure, 172
Michael W. Rich

9 Cardiac Surgery, 202
Ulrich O. von Oppell and Adam Szafranek

10 Cardiac Rehabilitation, 234
Niccol o Marchionni, Francesco Fattirolli, Francesco Orso, Marco Baccini, Lucio A. Rinaldi and Giulio Masotti

11 Acute Stroke Care and Management of Carotid Artery Stenosis, 261
David Doig and Martin M. Brown

12 Stroke Rehabilitation, 299
Lalit Kalra

13 Communication Disorders and Dysphagia, 329
Pamela M. Enderby

14 Peripheral Arterial Disease, 345
Leocadio Rodr guez-Ma nas, Marta Castro Rodr guez and Cristina Alonso Bouz on

15 Venous Thromboembolism, 366
Gordon D.O. Lowe

16 Planning Cardiovascular Investigations and Management of Older People, 376
Jennifer K. Harrison, Terence J. Quinn and David J. Stott

Index, 395