Publication details
The elderly and cardiovascular medication
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2012 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Kuprevich Gerontological Journal |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Other specializations of internal medicine |
| Keywords | angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors – antiaggregants – beta-blockers – statins – calcium blockers – diuretics – digoxin – pharmacotherapy in the elderly – unwanted side effects – medical interactions |
| Description | Authors analyze actual situation in treatment of cardiovascular diseases in older patients. Different groups of recommended drugs are discussed separately, possible risks for elderly patients are stressed. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors – this group is widely used in older patients because of their hypotensive effect, positive influence on cardiac failure and positive modulation of endothelial dysfunction. The risk of hyperkalemia must be considered. Antiaggregants and anticoagulants are proved as potent prophylactic treatment, but the associated risk of gastrointestinal bleeding must be weighed very carefully. Bradycardia related to beta-blockers, especially in combination with other medications lowering the heart rate must be taken into account, otherwise this group brings the highest profit in cardiovascular diseases as for morbidity and mortality. Attention is paid to calcium channel blockers, statines, diuretics, nitrates and digoxin. A table listing the possible side effects and clinical symptoms of overdose by medications most frequently used in the elderly concludes the article. |
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