Abstract

Aim. This review examines cardiovascular diseases as the most common disease of the elderly population, and discusses about causes and methods of prevention, mitigation and treatment.

Background. Nowadays, with increased level of health and life expectancy, the phenomenon of elderly and increase in chronic diseases is a main issue. In modern societies, aging and diseases of this period of life create a high cost for health care system.

Methods. This review was conducted by searching out databases such as Google Scholar, Elsevier, PubMed, PMC, and Springer for the time period of 2008 to 2016.

Findings. In addition to the impact of aging on the body organs, especially the cardiovascular system, many factors including biological factors, lifestyle, risk factors for heart disease, underlying disease, psychosocial factors and personality factors, may influence the acuity of cardiovascular diseases. During aging, many irreversible changes occurs in all body systems including cardiovascular system. These changes cause hardness, thickening and narrowing of the arteries. With the narrowing of the heart arteries and increased blood pressure, the heart needs to work harder to pump the blood, resulting in left ventricular hypertrophy. Impaired cell growth and proliferation of fibrous tissue occurs as a result of the problem in production of impulse and electrical conductivity of the heart. Increase in volume of the left ventricle and blood vessel narrowing lead to ischemia of the heart. Early heart disease with progression to irreversible heart failure results in disability, exercise intolerance, and taking multiple medications in elderly, and ultimately, death may occur. By understanding the mechanisms of aging and cardiovascular disorders and modifying influential factors, the process of development of cardiovascular disease can be slowed down and the complications can be prevented.

Conclusion. Aging may lead to irreversible cardiovascular disease with the ultimate result of chronic heart failure. Compliance with lifestyle modification may prevent early occurrence of this phenomenon and some of its complications such as disability and death.