Attributing heart attack and stroke to “Old Age”: Implications for subsequent health outcomes among older adults

Abstract

This study assessed the extent to which older adults attribute a recent heart attack/stroke to “old age,” and examined consequences for subsequent lifestyle behavior and health-care service utilization. Community-dwelling adults ( N = 57, ages 73–98 years) were interviewed about their heart attack/stroke, and an objective health registry provided data on health-care utilization over a 3-year period. Endorsement of “old age” as a cause of heart attack/stroke negatively predicted lifestyle behavior change, and positively predicted frequency of physician visits and likelihood of hospitalization over the subsequent 3 years. Findings suggest the importance of considering “old age” attributions in the context of cardiovascular health events.