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OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of cardiovascular disease among elderly people and to investigate the use of cardiovascular medication in this group. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: A quarter in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. METHODS: As a part of the 'Rotterdam elderly study', the cardiovascular anamnesis of 7.983 responding persons > or = 55 years (3105 men and 4878 women) was obtained by means of a questionnaire. RESULTS: Twelve and 4% of men and women, respectively, had at some time had a myocardial infarction, and 5 and 4% a stroke. Almost 7% of both sexes had anamnestic symptoms of angina pectoris. Coronary bypass surgery and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty were done in 4% and 1% of men and 1% and 0.5% of women, respectively. Of all participants 43% used at least one drug for cardiovascular purposes. Half of these used two or more, and a quarter used three or more drugs. Among women, diuretics were the most commonly used drug for cardiovascular purposes (21%), whereas among men beta-blocking agents were most common (15%). CONCLUSION: Cardiovascular diseases are common among elderly men and women. Many of them take at least one drug for cardiovascular purposes.

Type

Journal article

Journal

Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde

Publication Date

09/1995

Volume

139

Pages

1978 - 1982

Addresses

Erasmus Universiteit, Instituut Epidemiologie en Biostatistiek, Rotterdam.

Keywords

Humans, Cerebrovascular Disorders, Cardiovascular Diseases, Myocardial Infarction, Cardiovascular Agents, Coronary Artery Bypass, Prevalence, Cohort Studies, Cross-Sectional Studies, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Middle Aged, Drug Utilization, Netherlands, Female, Male, Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary