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Knowledge Gaps in Cardiovascular Care of Older Adults: A Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and American Geriatrics Society: Executive Summary.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Rich, MW; Chyun, DA; Skolnick, AH; Alexander, KP; Forman, DE; Kitzman, DW; Maurer, MS; McClurken, JB; Resnick, BM; Shen, WK; Tirschwell, DL
Published in: J Am Geriatr Soc
November 2016

The incidence and prevalence of most cardiovascular disorders increase with age, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and major disability in adults aged 75 and older. Despite the effect of CVD on quality of life, morbidity, and mortality in older adults, individuals aged 75 and older have been markedly underrepresented in most major cardiovascular trials, and virtually all trials have excluded older adults with complex comorbidities, significant physical or cognitive disabilities, frailty, or residence in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. As a result, current guidelines are unable to provide evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of older adults typical of those encountered in routine clinical practice. The objectives of this scientific statement are to summarize current guideline recommendations as they apply to older adults, identify critical gaps in knowledge that preclude informed evidence-based decision-making, and recommend future research to close existing knowledge gaps. To achieve these objectives, a detailed review was conducted of current American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) and American Stroke Association (ASA) guidelines to identify content and recommendations that explicitly targeted older adults. A pervasive lack of evidence to guide clinical decision-making in older adults with CVD was found, as well as a paucity of data on the effect of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions on outcomes that are particularly important to older adults, such as quality of life, physical function, and maintenance of independence. Accordingly, there is a critical need for a multitude of large population-based studies and clinical trials that include a broad spectrum of older adults representative of those seen in clinical practice and that incorporate relevant outcomes important to older adults in the study design. The results of these studies will provide the foundation for future evidence-based guidelines applicable to older adults and enhance person-centered care of older individuals with CVD in the United States and around the world.

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Published In

J Am Geriatr Soc

DOI

EISSN

1532-5415

Publication Date

November 2016

Volume

64

Issue

11

Start / End Page

2185 / 2192

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Geriatrics
  • Geriatrics
  • Female
  • Evidence-Based Medicine
  • Disease Management
  • Clinical Decision-Making
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Rich, M. W., Chyun, D. A., Skolnick, A. H., Alexander, K. P., Forman, D. E., Kitzman, D. W., … Tirschwell, D. L. (2016). Knowledge Gaps in Cardiovascular Care of Older Adults: A Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and American Geriatrics Society: Executive Summary. J Am Geriatr Soc, 64(11), 2185–2192. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.14576
Rich, Michael W., Deborah A. Chyun, Adam H. Skolnick, Karen P. Alexander, Daniel E. Forman, Dalane W. Kitzman, Mathew S. Maurer, et al. “Knowledge Gaps in Cardiovascular Care of Older Adults: A Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and American Geriatrics Society: Executive Summary.J Am Geriatr Soc 64, no. 11 (November 2016): 2185–92. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.14576.
Rich MW, Chyun DA, Skolnick AH, Alexander KP, Forman DE, Kitzman DW, Maurer MS, McClurken JB, Resnick BM, Shen WK, Tirschwell DL. Knowledge Gaps in Cardiovascular Care of Older Adults: A Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and American Geriatrics Society: Executive Summary. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2016 Nov;64(11):2185–2192.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Am Geriatr Soc

DOI

EISSN

1532-5415

Publication Date

November 2016

Volume

64

Issue

11

Start / End Page

2185 / 2192

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Geriatrics
  • Geriatrics
  • Female
  • Evidence-Based Medicine
  • Disease Management
  • Clinical Decision-Making