Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease and Diabetes in the Older Adult; Part I: Understanding Pathogenic Mechanisms
RS is a 75-year-old Caucasian man with essential hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus of 7 years duration. He denies diabetic complications and takes only glipizide and atenolol. Physical exam shows weight 218 pounds, height 70”, body mass index 31, blood pressure 152/82 mm Hg, and absent reflexes at the ankles. Patients such as RS, who represent a common office scenario, raise several important questions regarding appropriate treatment:
• What are the risk factors for atherosclerotic vascular disease (ASVD) in this patient?
• Could he already have subclinical dise...
