ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the epidemiology of coronary heart disease (CHD) in older persons will focus on the burden of CHD and its components, including the extent of subclinical atherosclerosis, as well as the key risk factors for CHD in the elderly and the evidence and guidelines for managing these risk factors both in primary and in secondary prevention. While many older persons live with no apparent evidence of clinical cardiovascular diseases (CVD), evidence of subclinical CVD is common. Data from the Framingham Heart Study show the risk of CHD increases more than fivefold according to the number of risk factors present. On a global basis, elevated blood pressure (BP) is responsible for more than 7 million deaths annually, more than any other risk factor. Numerous antihypertensive clinical trials have also shown important reductions in CVD events in older men and women.
