There is general agreement that the growth of the numbers of older people throughout the world has significant implications for both health and social care and for the prevention and treatment of disease and disability. The optimum use of pharmaceuticals and possibly nutraceuticals is, and will to a greater extent, therefore be of crucial importance. A snapshot of the current status of older people in relation to the issues discussed in this review is provided in an informative report published by Age UK.
Keywords: cardiovascular disease; clinical trial; drug treatment; older people; patients view.