Cardiovascular Interventions in the Elderly: Challenges and Innovations

This Research Topic is part of a three-part series on aging and cardiovascular health; readers are invited to explore the other titles in the series:
Unraveling Cellular Senescence in Cardiovascular Aging: Pathways, Biomarkers, and Therapeutic Innovations
Navigating multimorbidity and frailty in geriatric cardiovascular care

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) management in the elderly presents unique challenges due to age-related changes in physiology and increased procedural risks. As the global population continues to age, healthcare providers are tasked with addressing these complexities to enhance treatment outcomes. Current evidence highlights difficulties related to calcified and fragile vascular tissues, necessitating differentiated strategies for surgical and interventional procedures in older adults. While advancements have been made, further investigation is essential to overcome the hurdles posed by an aging society and to optimize care approaches for this demographic.

This Research Topic aims to delve into the intricate challenges and pioneering strategies associated with cardiovascular surgical and interventional procedures for the elderly. It emphasizes the need for tailored interventions that consider the specific physiological changes and higher risk profiles in this age group. Topics for exploration include preoperative evaluation, risk stratification, and technical adjustments specific to elderly patients. By addressing these areas, we seek to improve outcomes and broaden the understanding of management protocols that cater to the unique needs of older adults with CVD.

To gather further insights into this multifaceted research area, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

⦁ Preoperative risk assessment and shared decision-making in elderly patients
⦁ Innovations in technique and device technology for age-related anatomical challenges
⦁ Comparative outcomes of surgical versus percutaneous approaches in older adults
⦁ Perioperative and postoperative care in elderly patients, encompassing anesthetic considerations, delirium prevention, ICU management, and the implementation of enhanced recovery pathways (ERAS) tailored for older adults
⦁ Rehabilitation following surgery or interventional procedures, with a focus on quality-of-life outcomes and functional recovery, in addition to traditional endpoints such as mortality and morbidity
⦁ Management of complications and post-procedure rehabilitation in the elderly
⦁ Antithrombotic management and medication optimization post-intervention
⦁ Health economics and resource utilization in surgical and interventional care for aging populations

We welcome a wide range of articles, with the aim to foster cross-disciplinary dialogue and compile best practices, clinical trials, reviews, and case studies that advance our understanding and delivery of care for this specialized patient group.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Elderly cardiovascular care, Surgical challenges, Interventional strategies, Risk stratification, Minimally invasive techniques, Procedural outcomes, Age-related innovation, ERAS, Post-procedure rehabilitation, Perioperative care, Postoperative care

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.