Geriatric Cardiology-Therapeutic Strategies

Abstract Cardiovascular disease affects most men and women as they move through their last several decades of life. Vessels become stiffer, smooth muscle cells migrate, vasomotor functions decline, and the biology of their circulatory system is transformed. Changes in cardiovascular physiology with normal aging and prevalent comorbidities result in differences in the effects of common cardiac problems as well as in the response to their treatment. Patient-centered goals of care such as maintenance of independence and reduction of symptoms may be preferred over increased longevity. New less-invasive treatments are likely to improve outcomes in elderly patients who previously have been considered at prohibitive risk for traditional procedures.