A STUDY ON THE EVALUATION OF CARDIAC DYSFUNCTION AMONG OLDER PEOPLE ATTENDING HOSPITAL FOR APPARENTLY NON-CARDIAC PROBLEM

Abstract

An unprecedented increase in human longevity was one of the most spectacular events of 20^th century. The United Nations held its second General Assembly on aging in Madrid, in April 02 and International Plan of Action on aging 2002 was adopted. The health component of this declaration was based on the document “Active aging: A policy frame work” prepared by WHO^.2

In the year 2002 there were an estimated 605 million old person in the world of which 400 million were living in low income countries. Between 2000 and 2030, the number of older adults worldwide is expected to increase from 420 to 974 million. Cardiovascular disease is the most frequent diagnosis in elderly people and is the leading cause of death in both men and women ¹ older than 65 years of age. The profile of these common cardiovascular diseases differs in older patients from that in younger patients. Systolic, but not diastolic, blood pressure increases with aging, resulting in increased pulse pressure. Systolic hypertension becomes a stronger predictor of cardiovascular events, especially in women. Heart failure with preserved systolic function becomes more common at older ages and is more common in women. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is more likely to involve multiple vessels and left main artery disease and is equally likely in women as in men older than 65 years of age. Equal numbers of older men and women present with acute myocardial infarction (MI) until age 80, after which more women present