TITLE:
Cardiovascular Diseases in Patients over the Age of 75 Hospitalized in Cardiology: Epidemiological, Diagnostic, Progressive and Therapeutic Aspects (A Retrospective Multicenter Study of 340 Cases)
AUTHORS:
Christolyn Michel, Sabe Kane, Papa Guirane Ndiaye, Margueritte T. Diouf, Papa M. D. Fall, Waly N. Mboup, Mamadou Coume, Momar Dioum
KEYWORDS:
Cardiovascular Diseases, Older Adults, Dakar, Senegal
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases,
Vol.15 No.9,
September
12,
2025
ABSTRACT: Introduction: The main objective of our study was to describe cardiovascular diseases in patients over 75 years of age hospitalized in the four major cardiology departments in Dakar. Methodology: We conducted a multicenter, retrospective, descriptive, and analytical study in the four major cardiology departments in Dakar from January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2023, a period of two years. The study included patients over the age of 75 hospitalized in cardiology departments with cardiovascular disease confirmed by clinical and paraclinical data. Results: We included 340 patients, representing a hospital prevalence of 5.96%. The mean age was 81.55 ± 3.45 years, with extremes of 76 and 97 years. The most represented age group was between 76 and 80 years. The female population was slightly predominant, with a sex ratio of 0.99. Stroke was the main history (7.94%). Most of our patients already had underlying heart disease (26.47%). Hypertension (66.76%) was the main cardiovascular risk factor. Dyspnea (62.94%) was the main symptom on admission. Arrhythmia and signs of heart failure were the most common examination findings, occurring in 31.56% and 27.37% of cases, respectively. The majority of patients had dyslipidemia (97.9%). Primary repolarization disorders (52%) were the main abnormality on ECG. Cardiac chamber dilatation (61.18%) was the predominant abnormality on cardiac Doppler echocardiography. Atherosclerotic plaques (14.89%) were predominant on supra-aortic trunk ultrasound. Three-vessel disease (37.1%) was predominant on coronary angiography. Ischemic heart disease (40.88%) was the most common cardiovascular condition. The most commonly used therapeutic class in our population was anticoagulants (69.41%). Angioplasty (20.58%) was the most commonly performed interventional procedure in our patients, followed by pacemakers (20%). Complications during hospitalization were dominated by heart failure (45.21%), and the outcome was unfavorable in 20% of cases. Overall mortality was 10.3%. Ischemic heart disease and age > 85 years were the main factors associated with death. Conclusion: The prevalence of cardiovascular disease increases with age, and hypertension is the main risk factor. Ischemic heart disease is the most common condition. Mortality is significant. Prevention and optimal management of cardiovascular risk factors are the solution to cardiovascular disease in older adults.