In Patients with Chronic Stable Angina, Secondary Prevention Appears Better in the Very Old Compared to Younger Patients: The Coronary Artery Disease in gENeral practiCE (CADENCE) Substudy

Background With our aging communities and the increased prevalence of coronary heart disease (CAD) with age, the impact of this disease in the very old warrants further investigation. Objective To assess health outcomes and the attainment of guideline-based secondary prevention targets in the very old (>80 years, n = 482) as compared to young ( 0.05]. Also blood pressure, lipid, diabetic and body habitus targets were more often achieved in the very old and elderly patients compared to young stable angina patients. Conclusion Despite similar symptomatic status and greater physical limitations, the very old reported a better quality of life and more often achieved treatment targets than young stable angina patients. Failure to improve secondary prevention measures in younger age groups may potentially contribute to increased morbidity in older age, and failure to achieve ‘Healthy Ageing’.