Design and Pilot of a Six Week Teaching Programme in Cardiogeriatrics

Introduction

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in older adults. More than 70% of adults develop CVD by 70 years of age, among whom more than two-thirds also develop non-CVD comorbidities. There have been recent advances in CVD management but how we apply these to deliver integrated care to the elderly population is key. Thus, there is a clear need for educational strategies that integrate geriatric principles into cardiovascular training.

Objectives

To design and pilot a structured six week teaching programme in geriatric cardiology addressing clinical, ethical, and practical complexities of cardiovascular care in older adults through case-based and multimodal learning.

Methods

A hybrid six week programme was developed covering key domains: 1. Age-related cardiovascular changes. 2. Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA). 2. Multimorbidity and polypharmacy. 3. Disease-specific management (heart failure, atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease and aortic stenosis). 4. Ethical decision-making.

Delivery methods included case studies, curated readings, and interactive discussions. The programme was piloted with resident doctors.

Participants completed a pre- and post-programme survey, where they rated their confidence in each domain using a 5-point scale. Session-specific feedback was collected throughout and used to refine delivery in real time.

Results

Baseline confidence varied: 100% felt confident identifying CVD, but only 16.6% felt confident conducting CGAs, and 66% were unsure how to adapt care for older vs. younger patients. Moderate confidence was reported in managing multimorbidity and ethical issues. Session feedback showed strong engagement and participants reported improved confidence post-programme, with CGA and polypharmacy sessions rated most valuable.

Conclusion

This programme demonstrates the feasibility and value of integrating geriatric principles into cardiology. It effectively addresses the educational gap within geriatric cardiology. Early feedback was positive supporting the need for wider implementation and continued refinement to enhance engagement and impact.