GERIATRIC CARDIOLOGY

Geriatric cardiology refers to the cardiovascular care of patients 65 years of age or older. With a drastic change in lifestyle habits, and a resulting increase in younger heart patients, geriatric cardiology is a specialized field that requires specialized training of physicians and treatment programs for patients. Older adults often suffer from multiple ailments and are required to take medication for each of those problems. Such a situation demands extra vigilant healthcare professionals to ensure problems arising from polypharmacy, varying levels of cognitive and functional weaknesses are addressed while treating for cardiovascular diseases.

GERIATRIC CARDIOLOGY PROCEDURES

POLYPHARMACY

Polypharmacy is the simultaneous use of 5 or more medications. The impact of these medications on patients often changes drastically with age. The risk of adverse effect of drugs in such cases increases by 50%, and may increase to 100% in patients who take more than 7 chronic medications. For cardiologists, the challenge is to prioritize and reduce adverse effect of drugs and optimize the quality of life for an older patient.

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FRAILTY

Frailty is defined as the lack of physical strength across multiple organs in the patient that reduces tolerance for added stress. Unintentional weight loss, reduced walking speed and grip strength, reduced eyesight etc. that cause a negative effect on daily life. The challenge for cardiologists is to assess individual patients and the potential risks to devise risk management studies for such patients accordingly.