In Germany, there have been few investigations into prevalence and medical-therapy for cardiovascular disease (especially regarding cardio infarction) among the elderly. Our aim was to investigate the frequency of cardiovascular disease among over 60 year olds and to show their therapy as population related. The basis of our data was the documents of a representative study group of AOK (insurance) members from a North Rhine Westphalian Metropolis. The prevalence of cardiovascular problems was with 90% very high. 56% showed symptoms of at least two further illnesses from the three categories: the musculo-sceletal system, gastro-intestinal system, and their state of mind. All cardiovascular patients were treated with cardiovascular drugs; 2/3 continuously over a 4-quarter period. 43.9% of the aged population had hypertonia, women (47.1%) being slightly more affected than men (35.4%). The prevalence increased to 50% among 80 year olds. The degree of treatment in the case of female hypertensives was 90% and 82% in the case of males. The prevalence of cardiac infarction came to 3.5% among the elderly, and was notably higher for men than for women (6.7%/2.3%). Almost 90% of the cardiac infarction patients received on average anti-anginal vasodilators with 523 DDD per year. The vast majority of patients received three types of medicines simultaneously. The 1-year mortality of the elderly cardiac infarction patients was, when compared to a random sample of the same age, 7 times higher. Apoplexy among the aged had a prevalence of 2.8% and increased rapidly with age (60-69 years/1% to 5% > or = 70 years). The increase affected, above all, men, whose year's mortality was 15 times higher than that of a random sample of the same age. The apoplexy patients had a large amount of cardiovascular medications prescribed to them.