Kim Wilson BSc, MSc and Geriatrics & Aging Staff
A myocardial infarction (MI) is generally caused by a thrombus obstructing a coronary artery, resulting in death of heart muscle. Thrombi are usually caused by rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque on the wall of the coronary artery. About 50% of patients hospitalized for an acute myocardial infarction are elderly.1 The majority of patients who develop complications (such as congestive heart failure) or die from their first MI are also over the age of 65. Clearly coronary artery disease is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in seniors.
Primary prevention refers to risk factor modification to prevent a first MI, and includes education, lifestyle changes, and possibly pharmacological therapy in both younger and older men and women.
