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Review
. 2021 Dec 25;19(1):207.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph19010207.

Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Physical Activity for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases in the Elderly

Lorena Ciumărnean  1 , Mircea Vasile Milaciu  1 , Vasile Negrean  1 , Olga Hilda Orășan  1 , Stefan Cristian Vesa  2 , Octavia Sălăgean  3 , Silvina Iluţ  4 , Sonia Irina Vlaicu  5
Affiliations
Review

Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Physical Activity for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases in the Elderly

Lorena Ciumărnean et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases create an important burden on the public health systems, especially in the elderly, mostly because this group of patients frequently suffer from multiple comorbidities. Accumulating cardiovascular risk factors during their lifetime has a detrimental effect on an older adult's health status. The modifiable and non-modifiable cardiovascular risk factors are very diverse, and are frequently in a close relationship with the metabolic comorbidities of the elderly, mainly obesity and Diabetes Mellitus. In this review, we aim to present the most important cardiovascular risk factors which link aging and cardiovascular diseases, starting from the pathophysiological links between these factors and the aging process. Next, we will further review the main interconnections between obesity and Diabetes Mellitus and cardiovascular diseases of the elderly. Lastly, we consider the most important aspects related to prevention through lifestyle changes and physical activity on the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases in the elderly.

Keywords: cardiovascular disease; elderly; physical activity; prevention; risk factors.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Interactions between the factors that promote the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases in the elderly.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Influence of physical exercise on the cardiovascular risk and quality of life of the elderly [104,105,106,107,108].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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