Heart Health and Aging

Dear Colleagues,

The population of older adults is increasing throughout the world and with it, the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This has created distinctive, age-related management challenges. The population in the United States (US) >/= 65 years old has increased from 3 million in 1900 to about 46 million currently, and is expected to reach almost 84 million by 2050. The population aged ≥85 years was only about 0.2% of the total US population in 1900, but is anticipated to reach 5–6% by 2050. This extended lifespan increases the exposure to the cumulative effects of CVD risk factors, as well as to age-related physiological changes that increase the susceptibility to CVD incidence and progression. The prevalence of almost every type of CVD increases with age, including many that tend to develop predominantly in older adults (e.g., aortic stenosis, heart failure, atrial fibrillation). Furthermore, CVD in older adults is often more complex than in younger populations, both in terms of its pathophysiology and its superimposition upon multiple comorbidities. Adults aged ≥75 years currently comprise only about 6% of the US population, but account for >50% of all CVD deaths. 
To address the complexities of CVD in older adults, RCM is dedicating an entire issue to Heart Health and Aging. Manuscripts may focus on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, management, or prognosis of CVD in older adults, as well as on CVD preventive strategies in this age group. 

Dr. Jerome L. Fleg

Guest Editor

Manuscripts should be submitted via our online editorial system at https://imr.propub.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to start your submission. Manuscripts can be submitted now or up until the deadline. All papers will go through peer-review process. Accepted papers will be published in the journal (as soon as accepted) and meanwhile listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, reviews as well as short communications are preferred. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office to announce on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts will be thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. Please visit the Instruction for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) in this open access journal is 2200 USD. Submitted manuscripts should be well formatted in good English.