[Management of ischemic heart disease in the elderly]

[A ten-year follow-up of a 109-year-old woman with myocardial infarction]

A 109-year-old woman was hospitalized with myocardial infarction in the geriatric long-term care ward of our hospital. Her medical history was unknown, and she was receiving only peroral 20 mg/day furosemide. Her medical records at another hospital revealed that she had been given a previous diagnosis of myocardial infarction of the anteroseptal wall of the left ventricle by a cardiovascular specialist approximately 10 years previously. Although treatment with cardiovascular drugs such as an angiotensin II receptor blocker, aspirin, and spironolactone had been started, it was discontinued because of her hospital transfer and change in her attending physician. Because of aggravation of the symptoms of cardiac failure caused by infection, treatment with the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor temocapril (1 mg/day), spironolactone (12.5 mg/day), aspirin (100 mg/day), and a beta-adrenoceptor blocker carvedilol (2 mg/day) was tentatively initiated. Consequently, her B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level improved and her condition stabilized. She finally died of old age. Both inappropriate sharing of patient information among medical facilities and restrictions on medical care in Japanese health care system for the elderly may lead to improper and/or inadequate medical treatment for elderly patients. Although little evidence is available to support medical care for centenarians, treatment which is based on a thorough understanding of their physiological characteristics enables us to improve their quality of life.