Does the Theory of Relativity Apply to Cardiovascular Risk? Changes in the Spectrum of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Elderly Patients - Case Report.

The cardiovascular system balance can be disturbed by a various number of factors, some of them modifiable and others, such as age, which cannot be influenced. In the context of aging associated with such comorbidities as diabetes mellitus and rheumatoid arthritis, we wonder if the classical cardiovascular risk factors are enough to assess the probability of cardiac decompensation, or other factors may be involved. We present the case of a 76-year-old patient know with permanent atrial fibrillation, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, hypodiastolic heart failure and rheumatoid arthritis who was admitted with cardiac decompensation without evident cause and despite apparent therapeutic compliance. Geriatric assessment revealed marked mnesic and cognition deficit, malnutrition risk, dependency, depression and frailty. In such patients, the role of cardiac sarcopenia and rheumatoid arthritis in the decline of the cardiac function and patient outcome must be assessed and then managed.