Which demographic is at increased risk for ischemic heart disease?

Ischemic heart disease, also known as coronary artery disease, is primarily related to factors such as age, gender, and the presence of risk factors such as hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes.

Men older than 65 are recognized as being at increased risk for ischemic heart disease due to a combination of physiological changes that occur with aging, along with cumulative risk factors, such as lifestyle habits and other comorbid conditions that are often more prevalent in this demographic. Aging not only increases the likelihood of the development of atherosclerosis, the primary underlying cause of ischemic heart disease, but also tends to coincide with the onset of other cardiovascular risk factors which elevate the overall risk.

In contrast, females younger than 65 are generally at a lower risk for ischemic heart disease compared to their male counterparts in the same age group, largely due to the protective effects of estrogen prior to menopause. Teens with a family history of heart disease face some risk, but it is less significant relative to the age and gender demographics typically studied in the context of ischemic heart disease. Finally, while children with hypertension may have an elevated risk for future cardiovascular issues, the immediate risk of ischemic heart disease specifically is much lower in pediatric populations than in elderly men