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

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.

Automated summary

Elderly patients over the age of 75 years are highly susceptible to coronary artery disease (CAD) due to age being an important risk factor for atherosclerosis and a predictor of poorer outcomes. CAD is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in this population. Concerns about functional frailty, comorbidities, and patient preference for conservative or no treatment have led to a reduced interest in prospective studies in this high-risk group. This review provides an overview of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and management of CAD in older adults.