The ageing population of the United Kingdom and cardiovascular disease

The number of people aged 65 and over is predicted to increase by about 53% between 2001 and 2031, but the number of people aged under 65 will change little during this period (table). The increase in the number of older people will likely lead to an increase in the number of people who have chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease. This will impose further workload and financial pressures on the NHS. We examined the possible impact of the ageing population on the expected number of people with three cardiovascular disorders: coronary heart disease, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation.