The Social, Ethical, Economic, and Political Implications of Coronary Heart Disease Prevention in the Elderly.

: A variety of health measures during this century has resulted in marked increases in the number of people reaching old age, particularly 85 years of age or more. Two recent measures include lifestyle modification to lessen rates of coronary heart disease (CHD) and control of hypertension to decrease stroke events as well as to lessen CHD risk. This review presents approaches for considering the social, ethical, economic, and political implications of prevention of CHD in the elderly. It reviews demographic and other characteristics of our aging society and discusses what thier implications are as research in the biology of aging results in the prolongation of life.