The Annals Evolution of Clinical Pharmacy | Now Available
home help contact us subscription past issues search current issue
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

The Annals of Pharmacotherapy: Vol. 37, No. 12, pp. 1867-1876. DOI 10.1345/aph.1D026
© 2003 Harvey Whitney Books Company.
This Article
Right arrow Résumé Freely available
Right arrow Extracto Freely available
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow PDF
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Articles Ahead of Print
Right arrow [Order Reprint]
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Dornbrook-Lavender, K. A
Right arrow Articles by Pieper, J. A
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Dornbrook-Lavender, K. A
Right arrow Articles by Pieper, J. A

GERIATRICS

Secondary Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease in the Elderly

Kimberly A Dornbrook-Lavender, PharmD BCPS

at time of writing, Fellow of Cardiovascular Therapeutics, Division of Pharmacotherapy, School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC; now, Consultant Pharmacist, PPD Medical Communications, Durham, NC

Mary T Roth, PharmD MHS

Assistant Professor, Division of Pharmacotherapy, School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

John A Pieper, PharmD FCCP BCPS

Dean and Professor, College of Pharmacy, The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM

Reprints: Kimberly A Dornbrook-Lavender PharmD BCPS, PPD Medical Communications, 2655 Meridian Parkway, Durham, NC 27713-2203, FAX 919/765-8353, kim_dornbrook{at}yahoo.com

OBJECTIVE: To review relevant literature supporting the use of aspirin, ß-blockers, lipid-lowering agents, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors for the secondary prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD) in an elderly patient population aged >=65 years.

DATA SOURCES: A MEDLINE search (1990–May 2003) was conducted using the key terms coronary heart disease, secondary prevention and elderly.

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Primary and tertiary literature relating to the use of aspirin, ß-blockers, lipid-lowering agents, and ACE inhibitors in the elderly were reviewed.

DATA SYNTHESIS: CHD is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in persons >=65 years of age, and the use of pharmacologic agents has created a considerable opportunity for reducing recurrent events in those with established disease. This, combined with the aging of the US population, is creating an increase in the number of older adults eligible for secondary prevention. In 2002, the American Heart Association issued a scientific statement on the benefits of specific secondary prevention risk factor interventions in older adults. This article reviews pertinent findings from this statement, along with additional data supporting the use of pharmacologic agents for the secondary prevention of CHD in the elderly.

CONCLUSIONS: Data suggest that use of aspirin, ß-blockers, lipid-lowering agents, and ACE inhibitors are effective in secondary prevention of CHD in individuals aged >=65 years. This benefit is similar to, and often greater than, that observed in younger patients. We believe that these agents should be prescribed for all elderly patients without contraindications. Ongoing studies and future clinical trials will more clearly elucidate the benefits of secondary prevention of CHD, particularly in persons >=75 years of age, to determine the magnitude of benefits that can be achieved in this population.

Key Words: coronary heart disease, secondary prevention, elderly

Published Online, November 5, 2003. www.theannals.com, DOI 10.1345/aph.1D026

THIS ARTICLE IS APPROVED FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT
ACPE UNIVERSAL PROGRAM NUMBER: 407-000-03-041-H01


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J Public Health (Oxf)Home page
S. E. Ramsay, R. W. Morris, O. Papacosta, L. T. Lennon, M. C. Thomas, and P. H. Whincup
Secondary prevention of coronary heart disease in older British men: extent of inequalities before and after implementation of the National Service Framework
J Public Health, December 1, 2005; 27(4): 338 - 343.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 HeartHome page
C. J Bulpitt
Secondary prevention of coronary heart disease in the elderly
Heart, March 1, 2005; 91(3): 396 - 400.
[Full Text] [PDF]


homecopy help contact us subscription past issues search current issue
Copyright © 2003 by Harvey Whitney Books Company.