Türk Geriatri Dergisi, cilt.20, sa.2, ss.73-81, 2017 (SCI-Expanded)
Introduction: In Turkey, there is a lack of data on the frequency of cardiovascular diseases, riskfactors, co-morbid diseases, and drug usage among the elderly population. We aimed to compile adata of frequency of cardiovascular diseases, cardiovascular risk factors, concomitant diseases, anddrug usage among elderly patients visiting cardiology clinics in Turkey.Materials and Method: This non-interventional, multicenter study evaluated 5694 patientsaged 65 years or older and who were followed up at cardiology clinics. Cardiovascular diseases, riskfactors, co-morbidities, and medication use were surveyed.Results: Mean age of patients was 73.5±6.3 years (males: 49.8%). The frequency rates were73% for hypertension, 28.8% for diabetes mellitus, 35% for hyperlipidemia, 50% for previousmyocardial infarction, 27.3% for atrial fibrillation, and 11.5% for chronic renal failure. The body massindex of participants was 27.7±4.4 kg/m2, systolic blood pressure was 130±18 mmHg, diastolicblood pressure was 77.1±11 mmHg, and resting heart rate was 76±14 bpm, 66.3% of the studypopulation used beta blockers, 71.7% angiotensin system inhibitors, 59.6% diuretics, 7.9% digoxin,30.5% calcium channel blockers, 34% lipid-lowering agents, 71.5% acetylsalicylic acid, and 25.9%oral anticoagulants. The most common non-cardiovascular medications were vitamins (12.3%) andnonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (11.2%).Conclusion: Valuable data of Turkey’s elderly population at cardiology clinics, pertainingto cardiovascular and co-morbid diseases was collected. The identification of risk factors forcardiovascular diseases as well as concomitant diseases, and medication use in elderly patients maylead to interventions that could improve the health of elderly in the general population.