[Ischemic heart disease in the elderly--etiologic factors and pathogenesis].

Presented analysis of risk factors of coronary heart disease in the elderly indicate that two of them that is hypertension and diabetes are considered the most important in this age group. No significant predictive value of smoking, obesity, family history or hypercholesterolaemia was found. Increased incidence of coronary heart disease in the elderly can be related to cumulation of above risk factors throughout their life. In the second part of the study the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease is discussed with the conclusion that in myocardial infarction the mechanism leading to occlusion of coronary artery may depend on patients age. The fluent progress of senile, physiological process in degenerative, pathological ones allows in this age group of patients only for quantitative differentiation of these conditions and arbitrary established criteria of norm and pathology.