Are there morbidity concerns associated with Coronary Heart Disease?
Yes, congestive heart failure (CHF), due in part to coronary artery disease, is now the number one reason for hospitalization as well as the number one reason for re-hospitalization in individuals over the age of 65. We are keeping people with coronary heart disease alive longer but with more severe degrees of heart disease than in the past. CHF is an increasingly frequent cause of disability and morbidity in the elderly and is therefore becoming an important concern for underwriting Long-Term Care products. Q: Is treadmill testing really any good in the elderly? A: Yes, because of the high prevalence of CHD at older ages, stress tests have higher predictive values in diagnosing CHD in this group. To perform an exercise stress test, many different organ systems must be coordinated and working well, including the bones, skeletal muscles, heart, lungs and brain. Stress tests give valuable information about the function of all of these systems. However, older people may be unable to perfo
