This review highlights the unique pathophysiology, presentation, and management challenges of calcific aortic stenosis in the elderly, emphasizing the poor prognosis of medical therapy alone.
Alerts clinicians to atypical aortic stenosis presentations in the elderly; leaves open evidence-based management algorithms for comorbid patients.
Aortic stenosis is the most common valvular lesion in patients above the age of 65. The etiology, presentation, and management of aortic stenosis differs in the elderly compared to younger patients in many ways. Many of the classic physical findings are absent in the elderly, making the diagnosis of critical aortic stenosis more difficult. Due to coexisting morbidity in many elderly patients, there is often a reluctance to recommend aortic valve replacement despite the dismal prognosis of medical therapy. In the following review, the authors discuss the pathophysiology, presentation, and management of aortic stenosis in the elderly.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Sawhney et al. (2003) conducted a review in Calcific Aortic Stenosis.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: