The Journal of Tehran University Heart Center Letter to the Editor

Our world is aging inexorably and Iran is no exception. In the year 2050, the global percentage of oldest olds (aged> 80) will reach as high as 20%,1 presenting a formidable challenge to countries the world over. In Iran, people above the age of 60 will comprise 21.7 % of the total population, which is even higher than the 15.6 % in western Asia at the same time.1 The increase in the aging population, in tandem with the ineluctable rise in such chronic conditions as cardiovascular disease, requires due attention. Thankfully, cardiovascular disease is preventable and therein lies the significance of a better understanding of its risk factors and outcomes in each and every society through further epidemiologic research. It is, therefore, regrettable that the current medical databases lack comprehensive demographic or epidemiologic studies on the ageing and elderly people in Iran. A simple searc