Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Management of Coronary Artery Disease in the Elderly

Int J Angiol. 2022 Aug 25;31(4):244-250. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1751234. eCollection 2022 Dec.

Abstract

Elderly patients over the age of ≥ 75 years are especially susceptible to coronary artery disease (CAD) as age is an important nonmodifiable risk factors for atherosclerosis and a predictor of poorer outcomes. In fact, CAD is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in this population. Due to concerns of functional frailty, comorbidities, and patient preference of conservative to no treatment have played a role in reducing the interest in pursuing prospective studies in this high-risk group. In this review, we provide an overview of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and management of CAD in older adults.

Keywords: aging; atherosclerosis; coronary artery disease; elderly; frailty; revascularization.