Ageing and Brugada syndrome: considerations and recommendations

Brugada syndrome is an inherited disease associated with an increased risk of lethal ventricular arrhythmias. Such arrhythmias stem from innate disruptions in cardiac electrophysiology. Typically, such arrhythmias occur in the third or fourth decade of life. However, Brugada syndrome may also affect geriatric patients. In this paper, we focus on the ageing patient with Brugada syndrome, and specifically, on the interaction between Brugada syndrome and the more usually acquired clinical problems that may occur with increasing age, such as the use of cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular drugs, or the need for surgery. Such common conditions may also disrupt cardiac electrophysiology, thereby conferring added risk for Brugada syndrome patients. We present some considerations and recommendations that may serve as guidance to address these complexities. J Geriatr Cardiol 2013; 10: 75-81. doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1263.2012.10151