Multimorbidity in Older Adults With Cardiovascular Disease

J Am Coll Cardiol. 2018 May 15;71(19):2149-2161. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2018.03.022.

Abstract

Multimorbidity occurs in adults of all ages, but the number and complexity of comorbid conditions commonly increase with advancing age such that cardiovascular disease (CVD) in older adults typically occurs in a context of multimorbidity. Current clinical practice and research mainly target single disease-specific care that does not embrace the complexities imposed by concurrent conditions. In this paper, emerging concepts regarding CVD in combination with multimorbidity are reviewed, including recommendations for incorporating multimorbidity into clinical decision making, critical knowledge gaps, and research priorities to optimize care of complex older patients.

Keywords: aging; frailty; multimorbidity; polypharmacy; quality of life.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aging / pathology*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / therapy
  • Clinical Decision-Making / methods
  • Humans
  • Kidney Diseases / diagnosis
  • Kidney Diseases / epidemiology
  • Kidney Diseases / therapy
  • Mental Disorders / diagnosis
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology
  • Mental Disorders / therapy
  • Multimorbidity* / trends