[Cardiopathies in the elderly. The diagnostic and treatment problems].

Abstract

The author presents data obtained by the study of a group of 729 patients aged between 60 and 90 years with regard to cardiopathies. The most frequently encountered diseases were arterial hypertension (35.6%) and atherosclerotic heart disease (49.7%). There were small differences in the number of patients by sex. The more severe aspects were those determined by hypertensive cardiopathy and myocardial infarctions (acute, in antecedents, iterative). Congestive heart disease with failure of the myocardium is frequently associated with atrial fibrillation. Some particularities related to pharmacokinetics (such as reduction of intestinal absorption, slow elimination of drugs, the reduction in the number of active nephrons) make mandatory a different kind of medical treatment, with lower doses of drugs as compared to adults. Particular attention should be given to the risk of dehydration in the aged, to complication determined by digitalic preparation and anticoagulants, to associated affections and to complications of the cardiopathies. A diet with low amounts of sodium, predominantly alkaline, careful hygiene of the patients, correct administration of the drugs, and health education should be permanently considered by the ancillary personnel caring for such patients.