Aging and diabetes mellitus as risk factors for vascular disease.

During this century, cardiovascular diseases have become the major cause of death for elderly and diabetic patients. Although risk factors for vascular diseases have been identified, the interactions of aging and diabetes on the prevalence and incidence of vascular disease have not been systematically studied. A spectrum of such interactions appears to exist. Future research efforts are likely to permit accurate weighting of the influence that diabetes and aging have on vascular disease.