Management of Cardiac Rhythm Disturbances in the Ageing Heart

Abstract

The elderly experience a high proportion of chronic diseases, of which cardiac rhythm disturbances comprise a significant portion. Due to ageing-related metabolic and physiological changes, the management of cardiac rhythm disturbances will need to be modified and it is essential to be aware of the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of the drugs used. Non-drug treatment modalities, such as implantable cardioverterdefibrillators or radiofrequency ablation, which are increasingly available for use in the elderly, need to be considered periodically. The critical applications of drug and non-drug therapy of cardiac arrhythmias in the elderly are discussed in this article.