Abstract
Abstract only
Introduction:
By 2030, it is projected that 20% of the population will be 65 or older. Older adults aged 85 and over (the oldest old) are the fastest growing segment of the US population and globally. As the population ages, cardiovascular disease is becoming a major public health challenge. Providing optimal care to older adults with CVD is challenging due to their complexity, competing vulnerabilities and a lack of evidence-based knowledge to bridge the existing gap between guidelines and real-world clinical practice.
Hypothesis:
Exposure to geriatric education during training will associate with attitudes toward treatment of older adult patients.
Objective:
Evaluate current cardiologists’ knowledge and attitude toward geriatric care.
Methods:
IRB-approved, quantitative cross-sectional study using an online survey distributed to all cardiologists and cardiology fellows within a large academic medical system.
Result:
Of the 98 physicians invited, 26 responded (26.5% response rate) of which 19.2% were female; 45% cardiology fellows, 5% early career (< 5 years) and 50% experienced cardiologists (>10 years). Of those surveyed, 77% reported more than half of their patients were over age 65. While 87% believed it was very important for cardiologists to have knowledge about geriatric syndromes, 70% reported little to moderate levels of knowledge about their impact on CV care. Only 20% reported a deep fund of knowledge. Most knowledge was gained through experience rather than formal education. None of the participants were aware of the “Essentials of Cardiovascular Care in Older Adults (ECCOA)” curriculum within the Geriatric Cardiology section of ACC. Two thirds were concerned about potential overtreatment for older adults, whereas 41% were concerned for potential undertreatment.
Conclusion:
Academic-affiliated cardiologists surveyed reported unmet educational needs regarding care of older adults. Efforts to equip cardiologists with the requisite up- to -date knowledge of geriatric cardiology are needed to formulate a balanced and holistic therapeutic plan of care for our most vulnerable patients.