“Heart failure therapies in elderly patients should be similar to those in younger patients, although their use may depend primarily on concomitant conditions” (level I, class b)

“Frail elderly heart failure patients should be referred to a geriatrician for comprehensive geriatric assessment” (level I, class b)

“Evidence based pyschotherapies recommended for geriatric depression include: behaviour therapy; cognitive-behaviour therapy; problem-solving therapy; brief dynamic therapy; interpersonal therapy; and reminiscence therapy” (grade A)

“Older patients have a response rate similar to younger adults” (grade A)

“[R]ecommend that physicians and pharmacists consult up-to-date drug interaction data bases when a new antidepressant is prescribed to patients taking multiple medications” (grade C)

“[Check] sodium blood levels after one month of treatment with SSRIs, especially with patients taking other medications that can cause hyponatremia (e.g., diuretics)” (grade C)

“[R]ecommend targeted screening for those elderly at higher risk of depression” (eg, those who are socially isolated, have chronic disabling illness, have persistent sleep difficulties, refuse to eat, or neglect of personal care) (grade B)

“When choosing agents from a specific class, clinicians should select those found to be safer with the elderly (e.g., selecting drugs with the lowest anti-cholinergic properties amongst available antidepressants)” (grade D)

“Otherwise healthy elderly people with diabetes should be treated to achieve the same glycemic, blood pressure and lipid targets as younger people with diabetes” (grade D, consensus)

Lifestyle modification recommended (grade A, level 1a)

“Elderly people living in community should be referred for interdisciplinary interventions involving education and support” (grade C, level 3)

“Aerobic exercise and/or resistance training may benefit elderly” (grade B, level 2)

“[S]ulfonylureas should be used with caution” (owing to risk of hypoglycemia) (grade D, level 4)

“[P]remixed insulins and prefilled insulin pens as alternatives to mixing insulins should be considered to reduce dose errors” (grade B, level 2)

Men > 50 y and women > 60 y of moderate risk with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol of < 3.5 mmol/L can be tested for highly sensitive C-reactive protein

“[B]eta-blockers are not recommended as first-line therapy for uncomplicated hypertension in patients 60 years of age or older” (grade A)

“Strong consideration should be given to the addition of low-dose ASA therapy in hypertensive patients” older than 50 y (grade A)

“Caution should be exercised if blood pressure is not controlled” (grade C)

Lists age of > 65 y as a substantial risk factor for osteoporosis

Treatment should be initiated according to the results of the 10-y absolute fracture risk assessment (level 1b). Treatment is recommended if the 10-y absolute risk for fracture is high (>20%)

Provides a 10-y fracture risk for women aged 50–85 y