Life Expectancy Of A Patient With A Heart Disease Along With Diabetes, Emphysema And High Cholesterol?

Posted on Tue, 26 Mar 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 Answered on

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi. I am trying to obtain information on life expectancy for a client facing incarceration. He is 59 years old, with diabetes, emphysema, rheumatoid arthritis, and high cholesterol. He has had two heart attacks within the last 8 years and has 2 stents. He is retired on disability. He previously smoked, drank, and used illegal drugs, but has been clean since 2004. He lives with a long-term girlfriend (37 years) and cares for his 8 and 12-year-old grandchildren. He has an 8th grade education, and does not read or write very well.

Answered by Dr. Venkat Sivayogi (4 hours later)

Hello,

Thanks for your query.

The life expectancy of a patient with a heart disease associated with multiple risk factors like diabetes, high cholesterol and emphysema is really hard for anybody to guess.

But one thing I can say is that, if he is clean out of smoking, using medications mainly blood thinners, statins for lowering cholesterol, blood sugar controlling pills along with lifestyle modifications like reducing intake of salt, avoiding fat foods and with regular physical activity ,we can improve the life of stents and prevents the further heart attacks. But nobody can judge the life expectancy as most of the risk factors in him are modifiable.

As he has already two stents in his heart, life expectancy purely depends upon care for his own health and proper use of medications.

If you need any further clarifications write us back.

Regards,
DR.sivayogi.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T