1Uemara, K.International trends in cardiovascular diseases in the elderly. Eur Heart J 1988; 9 (suppl D): 1–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

2Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. 1987 England and Wales mortality statistics, cause, series DH2, no. 12. London: HMSO, 1990: 147.Google Scholar

3Registrar General. Scotland 1987 annual report for 1986, no. 132. Edinburgh: HMSO, 1987: 55–56.Google Scholar

4Lie, JT, Hammond, PI.Pathology of the senescent heart: anatomic observations on 237 autopsy studies of patients 90 to 105 years old. Mayo Clin Proc 1988; 63: 552–64.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

5Lernfelt, B, Landahl, S, Svanborg, A.Coronary heart disease at 70,75 and 79 years of age: a longitudinal study with special reference to sex differences and mortality. Age Ageing 1990; 19: 297–303.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

6Caird, FI, Campbell, A, Jackson, TFM.Significance of abnormalities of electrocardiogram in old people. Br Heart J 1974; 36: 1012–18.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

7Williams, BO. The cardiovascular system. In: Pathy, MSJ ed. Principles and practice of geriatric medicine, second edition. Chichester: Wiley, 1991: 573–623.Google Scholar

8Umachandran, V, Randjadayalan, K, Ambepityia, G, Merchant, B, Kopelman, PG, Timmis, AD.Aging, autonomic function, and the perception of angina. Br Heart J 1991; 66: 15–18.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

9Miller, PF, Sheps, DS, Bragdon, EE et al. Aging and pain perception in ischaemic heart disease. Am Heart J 1990; 120: 22–30.Google Scholar

10Salcedo, EE, Manvick, TH, Korzick, DH, Goormastic, M, Go, RT.Left ventricular hypertrophy sensitizes the myocardium to the development of ischaemia. Eur Heart J 1990; 11: (suppl G): 72–78.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

11Candell Riera, J, Castell Conesa, J, Ortega Alcalde, D, Domenech Torne, FM, Soler Soler, J.Diagnostic accuracy of radionuclide techniques in patients with equivocal electrocardiographic exercise testing. Eur Heart J 1990; 11: 980–89.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

12Pamir, G, Caglar, N, Oral, D, Akyol, T, Kaymakcalan, S.Evaluation of coronary arterial disease by oral dipyridamole stress testing using 12-lead electrocardiography. Int J Cardiol 1990; 29: 311–16.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

13Northridge, DB, Grant, S, Ford, I et al. Novel exercise protocol suitable for use on a treadmill or a bicycle ergometer. Br Heart J 1990; 64: 313–16.Google Scholar

14Ferrara, N, Leosco, D, Abete, P et al. Dipyridamole echocardiography as a useful and safe test in the assessment of coronary-artery disease in the elderly. J Am Geriatr Soc 1991; 39: 993–99.Google Scholar

15Grossman, W. Complications of cardiac catheterization: incidence, causes and prevention. In: Grossman, W ed. Cardiac catheterization and angiography. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1986: 30–42.Google Scholar

16Vestal, RE, Wood, AJJ, Shand, DG.Reduced β-adrenoreceptor sensitivity in the elderly. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1979; 26: 181–86.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

17Conway, J, Wheeler, R, Sannerstedt, R.Sympathetic nervous activity during exercise in relation to age. Cardiovasc Res 1971; 5: 577–81.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

18Barber, HE, Hawksworth, GM, Petrie, JC, Rigby, JW, Robb, OJ, Scott, AK.Pharmacokinetics of atenolol and propranolol in young and elderly subjects. Br J Clin Pharmacol 1981; 11: 118–119P.Google Scholar

19Rubin, PC, Scott, PJW, McLean, K, Pearson, A, Ross, D, Reid, JL.Atenolol disposition in young and elderly subjects. Br J Clin Pharmacol 1982; 13: 235–37.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

20Rigby, JW, Scott, AK, Hawksworth, GM, Petrie, JC.A comparison of the pharmacokinetics of atenolol, metoprolol, oxprenolol, and propranolol in elderly hypertensive and young healthy subjects. Br J Clin Pharmacol 1985; 20: 327.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

21Quarterman, CP, Kendall, MJ, Jack, DB.The effect of age on the pharmacokinetics of metoprolol and its metabolites. Br J Clin Pharmacol 1981; 11: 287–94.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

22Radack, K, Deck, C.β-adrenergic blocker therapy does not worsen intermittent claudication in subjects with peripheral arterial disease. A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Arch Intern Med 1991; 151: 1769–76.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

23Sorkin, EM, Clissold, SP, Brogden, RN.Nifedipine: a review of its pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties and therapeutic efficacy, in ischaemic heart disease, hypertension and related cardiovascular disorders. Drugs 1985; 30: 182–274.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

24Chaffman, M, Brogden, RN.Diltiazem: a review of its pharmacological properties and therapeutic efficacy. Drugs 1985; 29: 387–482.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

25Hogan, JC, Lewis, MJ, Henderson, AH.Chronic administration of N-acetylcysteine fails to prevent nitrate tolerance in patients with stable angina pectoris. Br J Clin Pharmacol 1990; 30: 573–77.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

26Alpert, JS.Nitrate therapy in the elderly. Am J Cardiol 1990; 65: 23–27J.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

27Akhras, F, Jackson, G.Efficacy of nifedipine and isosorbide mononitrate in combination with atenolol in stable angina. Lancet 1991; 338: 1036–39.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

28Elder, AT, Shaw, TRD, Turnbull, CM, Starkey, IR.Elder and younger patients selected to undergo coronary angiography. Br Med J 1991; 303: 950–53.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

29Gold, S, Wong, WF, Schatz, IJ, Lanoie Blanchette, P.Invasive treatment for coronary artery disease in the elderly. Arch Intern Med 1991; 151: 1085–88.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

30Bedotto, JB, Rutherford, BD, McConahay, DR et al. Results of multivessel percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in persons aged 65 years and older. Am J Cardiol 1991; 67: 1051–55.Google Scholar

31Jouve, B, Collet, F, Silvestri, M et al. Coronary angioplasty in patients aged 70 and over. Immediate results and later outcome. Arch Mal Coeur 1990; 83: 1501–1506.Google Scholar

32Royal College of Physicians. Report on cardiological intervention in elderly patients. J R Coll Physicians Land 1991; 25: 197–205.Google Scholar

33Mullany, CJ, Darling, GE, Pluth, JR et al. Early and late results after isolated coronary artery bypass surgery in 159 patients aged 80 years and older. Circulation 1990; 82: IV229–36.Google Scholar

34Bayer, AJ, Chandra, JS, Farag, RR, Pathy, MS.Changing presentation of myocardial infarction with increasing age. J Am Geriatr Soc 1986; 34: 263–66.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

35Solomon, CG, Lee, TH, Cook, F et al. Comparison of clinical presentation of acute myocardial infarction in patients older than 65 years of age to younger patients: the multicenter chest pain study experience. Am J Cardiol 1989; 63: 772–76.Google Scholar

36Day, JJ, Bayer, AJ, Chadha, JS, Pathy, MSJ.Myocardial infarction in old people. The influence of diabetes mellitus. J Am Geriatr Soc 1988; 36: 791–94.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

37Cocchi, A, Franceschini, G, Antonelli Incalzi, R, Farina, G, Vecchio, FM, Carbonin, PU.Clinico-pathological correlations in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction in the elderly. Age Ageing 1988; 17: 87–93.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

38Nadelmann, J, Frishman, WH, Ooi, WL et al. Prevalence, incidence and prognosis of recognized and unrecognized myocardial infarction in persons aged 75 years of age or older: the Bronx aging study. Am J Cardiol 1990; 66: 533–37.Google Scholar

39Glazier, JJ, Piessens, J.Mechanisms of painless myocardial ischaemia. J R Coll Physicians Land 1991; 25: 102–104.Google ScholarPubMed

40Tofler, GH, Muller, JE, Stone, PH et al. Factors leading to shorter survival after acute myocardial infarction in patients ages 65 to 75 years compared with younger patients. Am J Cardiol 1988; 36: 791–94.Google Scholar

41Herlitz, J, Hjalmarson, A, Waagstein, F.Treatment of pain in acute myocardial infarction. Br Heart J 1989; 61: 9–13.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

42AIMS Trial Study Group. Effect of intravenous APSAC on mortality after acute myocardial infarction: preliminary report of a placebo-controlled clinical trial. Lancet 1988; i: 545–49.Google Scholar

43Wilcox, RG, Olsson, CG, Skene, AM, Von Der Lippe, G, Jensen, G, Hampton, JR.Trial of tissue plasminogen activator for mortality reduction in acute myocardial infarction. Anglo-Scandinavian study of early thrombolysis (ASSET). Lancet 1988; ii: 525–30.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

44American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force. Guidelines for the early management of patients with acute myocardial infarction. Circulation 1990; 82: 664–707.Google Scholar

45Baillie, SP, Furniss, SS.Thrombolysis for elderly patients – which way from here? Age Ageing 1991; 20: 1–2.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

46Weston, C, Fox, KA.Pre-hospital thrombolysis; current status and future prospects. J R Coll Physicians Land 1991; 25: 312–20.Google ScholarPubMed

47ISIS-2 (Second International Study of Infarct Survival Collaborative Group). Randomized trial of intravenous streptokinase, oral aspirin, both or neither among 17 187 cases of suspected acute myocardial infarction. Lancet 1988; ii: 349–60.Google Scholar

48SCATI Group. Randomised controlled trial of subcutaneous calcium heparin in acute myocardial infarction. Lancet 1989; ii: 182–86.Google Scholar

49ISIS-1 (First International Study of Infarct Survival Collaborative Group). Randomised trial of intravenous atenolol among 16027 cases of suspected acute myocardial infarction. Lancet 1986; ii: 57–66.Google Scholar

50Yusuf, S, Macmahon, S, Collins, R, Peto, R.Effect of intravenous nitrates on mortality in acute myocardial infarction: an overview of the randomised trials. Lancet 1988; i: 1088–92.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

51Holland, KJ, O'neill, WW, Bates, ER, Pitt, B, Topol, EJ.Emergency percutaneous coronary angioplasty during acute myocardial infarction for patients more than 70 years of age. Am J Cardiol 1989; 63: 399–403.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

52Lee, TC, Laramee, LA, Rutherford, BD et al. Emergency percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction in patients 70 years of age and older. Am J Cardiol 1990; 66: 663–67.Google Scholar

53Hopper, JL, Pathik, B, Hunt, D, Chan, WWC.Improved prognosis since 1969 of myocardial infarction treated in a coronary care unit: lack of relation with change in severity. Br Med J 1989; 299: 892–96.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

54Olmsted, WL, Groden, DL, Silvermann, ME.Prognosis in survivors of acute myocardial infarction occurring at age 70 years or older. Am J Cardiol 1987; 60: 971–75.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

55Antiplatelet Trialists' Collaboration. Secondary prevention of vascular disease by prolonged antiplatelet treatment. Br Med J 1988; 296: 320–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

56The Dutch TIA Trial Study Group. A comparison of two doses of aspirin (30mg vs. 283mg a day) in patients after a transient ischemic attack or minor ischemic stroke. N Engl J Med 1991; 325: 1261–66.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

57The SALT collaborative group. Swedish aspirin low-dose trial (SALT) of 75mg aspirin as secondary prophylaxis after cerebrovascular ischaemic events. Lancet 1991; 338: 1345–49.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

58Prevention of stroke by antihypertensive drug treatement in older persons with isolated systolic hypertension. Final results of the systolic hypertension in the elderly program. JAMA 1991; 265: 3255–64.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

59Coope, J, Warrender, TS.Randomised trial of treatment of hypertension in elderly patients in primary care. Br Med J 1986; 293: 1145–51.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

60European Working Party on High Blood Pressure in the Elderly. Mortality and morbidity results from the European working party on high blood pressure in the elderly trial. Lancet 1985; i: 1349–54.Google Scholar

61Dahlof, B, Lindholm, LH, Hansson, L, Schersten, B, Ekbom, T, Wester, P-O.Morbidity and mortality in the Swedish trial in old patients with hypertension. Lancet 1991; 338: 1281–84.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

62Omenn, GS, Anderson, KW, Kronmal, RA, Vlietstra, RE. The temporal pattern of reduction of mortality risk after smoking cessation. Am J Prev Med 1990; 6: 251–57.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

63Lacroix, AZ, Lang, J, Scherr, P et al. Smoking and mortality among older men and women in three communities. N Engl J Med 1991; 324: 1619–25.Google Scholar

64Ehsani, AA, Ogawa, T, Miller, TR, Spina, RJ, Jilka, SM.Exercise training improves left ventricular systolic function in older men. Circulation 1991; 83: 96–103.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

65Blair, SN, Kohl, HW, Paffenbarger, RS, Clark, DG, Cooper, KH, Gibbons, LW.Physical fitness and all-cause mortality. A prospective study of healthy men and women. JAMA 1989; 262: 2395–2401.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

66Khaw, K-T.Serum lipids in later life. Age Ageing 1990; 19: 277–79.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

67Eisenberg, JM.Should the elderly be screened for hypercholesterolaemia? Arch Intern Med 1991; 151: 1063–65.CrossRefGoogle Scholar