Seniors Welcome! Avoiding the Trap of Age Limits in Health Research

The guest editor introduces this specialty issue of the Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews , which focuses on cardiovascular diseases in the elderly. The reality of an aging population has increased the need for better evidence-based medicine in older patients. However, randomized controlled trials frequently exclude such patients, especially those with comorbidities, from study. This practice ignores the fact that physiologic changes to the cardiovascular system caused by the aging process and aging-associated diseases create clinical dilemmas distinct from those in younger patients. Considering the rising costs of health care and growing incidence of cardiovascular disease, research efforts and resources need to be directed efficiently toward reducing overall disease burden and disability by focusing on prevention and early detection of disease in elderly patients.