Heart disease and aging

Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of death in older persons. Hypertension is present in nearly one third of older women and men. The prevalence of valvular aortic stenosis, aortic regurgitation, mitral regurgitation, and of mitral annual calcification increases with age in older men and in older women. Congestive heart failure (CHF) is the most common cause of hospitalization in persons aged 65 years and older. The prevalence and incidence of CHF increase with age; an increasing proportion of cases has normal left ventricular ejection fraction. The prevalence of chronic atrial fibrillation increases with age and is an independent predictor of new coronary events and thromboembolic stroke in older persons.