Cardiac Rhythm Disorders In Older Adults

This issue of Clinics in Geriatric Medicine focuses on the pharmacological, non-pharmacological, and device therapies in the medical management of cardiac rhythm disorders in the elderly population. It also reviews the epidemiology of arrhythmias and conduction disorders in older adults, atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter: stroke prevention, bradyarrhythmias and conduction disorders, and comorbidities, quality of life, and end-of-life issues in older patients with heart rhythm disorders.

This issue of Clinics in Geriatric Medicine focuses on the pharmacological, non-pharmacological, and device therapies in the medical management of cardiac rhythm disorders in the elderly population. It also reviews the epidemiology of arrhythmias and conduction disorders in older adults, atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter: stroke prevention, bradyarrhythmias and conduction disorders, and comorbidities, quality of life, and end-of-life issues in older patients with heart rhythm disorders.

Reviews the best therapies and surgical techniques available to provide quality care for the elderly cardiac patient and of those areas that require further research. The authors detail preventive therapies and the cardiovascular syndromes that disproportionately afflict the older individual, including arrhythmias (particularly atrial fibrillation), syncope, heart failure (particularly diastolic heart failure), and ischemic heart disease. They also delineate the surgical management of the heart patient with discussions of postoperative management and its complications and of specific surgical procedures such as coronary artery bypass grafting, valve surgery, pacemaker and defibibrillators, and surgical management of heart failure.

With advances and breakthroughs in modern medicine that are allowing people to live longer, the number of older adults will continue to grow exponentially over the next several decades. Cardiologists, geriatricians, and other clinicians caring for the elderly will require—at the very least—a basic understanding of cardiovascular disorders that commonly affect the older patient. In the fifth edition of Tresch and Aronow's Cardiovascular Disease in the Elderly, each chapter has been thoroughly updated to provide a comprehensive, yet accessible overview of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, evaluation, and treatment of cardiovascular disorders in older adults. The book spans topics such as aging changes in the cardiovascular system, risk factors and epidemiology for coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathies and heart failure, arrhythmias, cerebrovascular disease, and other miscellaneous subjects. The contributors supply evidence-based recommendations with strong emphasis on new research findings. New to the Fifth Edition: Numerous chapters comprehensively revised with new authors and/or co-authors Summaries at the beginning of each chapter to facilitate easy reading Discussion of the use of new antithrombotic agents in older adults Important references in the bibliography highlighted for simplified access With contributions from recognized experts in the field, this classic work continues to serve as the premier source on the evaluation and management of cardiovascular disorders in older adults.

Aging of the heart and arteries : relevance to cardiovascular disease / Samer S. Najjar and Edward G. Lakatta -- Frailty : keystone in the bridge between geriatrics and cardiology / William Russell Hazzard -- Cardiovascular risk factors in the elderly : evaluation and intervention / Susan J. Zieman and Beth R. Malasky -- Stable coronary artery disease in the elderly / Beth R. Malasky and Joseph S. Alpert -- Age and mortality and morbidity in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction / Steven P. Schulman and Gary Gerstenblith -- Unstable angina/non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction in the elderly / Stephen D. Wiviott and Christopher P. Cannon -- Percutaneous coronary intervention in the elderly / Michael J. McWilliams and Eric J. Topol -- Cardiac surgery in the elderly / David D. Yuh and William A. Baumgartner -- Heart failure in the elderly / Michael W. Rich -- Valvular heart disease in the elderly / Milind Y. Desai and Gary Gerstenblith -- Arrhythmia management in the elderly / Jonathan P. Piccini and Hugh Calkins -- Peripheral arterial disease in the elderly / Emile R. Mohler III and William R. Hiatt -- Cardiac rehabilitation in older cardiac patients / Philip A. Ades -- Clinical pharmacology / Janice B. Schwartz -- Medical treatment of the cardiac patient approaching the end of life / Lofty L. Basta, W. Daniel Doty, and Michael D.D. Geldart.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a screening tool called the Listing of Impairments to identify claimants who are so severely impaired that they cannot work at all and thus immediately qualify for benefits. In this report, the IOM makes several recommendations for improving SSA's capacity to determine disability benefits more quickly and efficiently using the Listings.

This book provides an overview of the history, manifestations, and treatment of heart disease and heart rhythm disorders. In addition, it covers the effects on the lives of patients, coping mechanisms, and relationships with doctors, family, religion, and death. The book uniquely intersects the fields of medicine, literature, science, and art. Chapters begin by familiarizing the reader with the historical aspects of manifestations and treatment – discussing both scientific and psychological aspects of the disease. Chapters also discuss the evolution of several treatment modalities. Every chapter of the book contains interesting and evocative patient stories and their treatment. Rhythms of Broken Hearts will be of interest to a wide spectrum of health care practitioners as well as to patients and related family members with interest in understanding their symptoms and disease entity. _____________________________________________________________________ In Rhythm of Broken Hearts, Dr. Gomes distills a multifaceted perspective with a unique story that knits history, physiology, emotion, and wisdom.Jonathan L. Halperin, M.D. If you ever have a broken heart -- romantic or medical -- you will be totally absorbed in this dazzling multicultural read. Grace Schulman Dr. Gomes’s affinity and empathy for his patients and their stories narrated in this book, make universal the experiences of illness that we all must navigate at some point in our lives.Jeremy N. Ruskin, MD