Posters for 2025 Cardiovascular Health in Older People SIG Meeting

Introduction: Acute heart failure (HF) is the leading cause of hospital admission in people aged 65 years or older in the UK. Hospital at Home (HAH) is an admission avoidance service for frail older patients with the capabilities of administering intravenous diuretics and carrying out blood test including NT-proBNP. We aimed to audit the diagnosis and management of patients presenting with acute HF to Frimley Health’s HAH services against NICE guidelines (CG187). Methods: A retrospective analysis was carried out for all patients referred to HAH with decompensated HF between January and

Introduction In this retrospective study we examined adverse cardiovascular outcomes in patients under and over 80 years of age. Two cohorts were analysed: those undergoing coronary angiography and those treated for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The first aim was to asses outcomes in those selected for invasive strategy including elective, urgent, or emergency procedures. The second aim was to compare invasive, excluding staged procedures, versus conservative management in the whole cohort presenting with ACS. Methods Data was retrospectively collected from patients treated at Conquest

Introduction Chronic heart failure is a leading cause of hospitalisation in individuals over 65, carrying significant morbidity and mortality, with approximately 50% of patients dying within five years of diagnosis. Despite this, only 40% of patients are under the care of cardiology, a figure projected to decline further. This audit aimed to assess adherence to European Society of Cardiology and NICE guidelines for the investigation and management of heart failure in geriatric inpatients at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. Methods We conducted a closed-loop audit of 100 patients

Introduction & Aims Syncope is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality that is reported to affect up to 20% of adults over 75 years old. We aimed to describe the current Bradford syncope service for older adults. Methods Descriptive statistics were generated using data collected from outpatients discharged from the clinic in September and October 2024. Data were recorded manually using clinic letters and notes. SNOMED CT diagnostic and procedural codes recorded were requested from the Informatics team. Results The study included 46 patients aged 80 years (mean, range 70 to 94), 60% (27)

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

Introduction: The head-up tilt test (HUTT) is a common diagnostic test in patients presenting with syncope. A fast Italian protocol for HUTT shortens the traditional protocol from 40 to 25 mins (5 min supine phase, 10 min passive phase, 10 min GTN phase). This has been demonstrated to be as sensitive and specific in identifying vasovagal syncope in young adults as the traditional protocol, but not in older adults. We aimed to determine in our practice what proportion of positive results identified using the traditional Italian protocol, could have been identified using the fast Italian

Introduction Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) remains an important topic within geriatric populations due to its high prevalence. The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) recommends the four pillars, namely ARNI/ACE inhibitors/ARB, beta-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA) and SGLT2 inhibitors. Frailty and co-morbidities often complicates management, yet the benefit is substantial, with an estimated 73% relative risk reduction in mortality. This project evaluated compliance to the four pillars on hospital discharge, following interventions including

Introduction: Polypharmacy is a highly prevalent challenge in geriatric care, particularly concerning patients with cardiovascular conditions. The STOPP (Screening Tool of Older Persons' potentially inappropriate Prescriptions) and START (Screening Tool to Alert to Right Treatment) criteria are recognized tools designed to optimize medication regimens in older adults by identifying potential omissions and potentially inappropriate prescriptions. This project aimed to evaluate and improve adherence to the STOPP/START criteria for cardiovascular and coagulation medications among older people

Introduction As the population ages, more older adults with moderate to severe frailty are undergoing invasive cardiac interventions. Despite its prognostic significance, frailty is not incorporated into conventional cardiac risk scores. Best practice requires assessment of baseline function, care needs, and polypharmacy to inform intervention suitability, ceiling of care decisions, and discharge planning. The Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) is a validated tool (1) for summarising frailty based on clinical judgement. Accurate social history documentation is essential and endorsed by both European

Introduction: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have demonstrated significant benefits in reducing cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes and established coronary artery disease (CAD). Guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) recommend the use of SGLT2i in this high-risk population. This audit evaluates adherence to these guidelines, identifies barriers to compliance, and highlights areas for improvement. Method: A retrospective audit was conducted on diabetic patients with CAD who