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[Management programs for elderly patients with chronic heart failure]
G Pulignano1, E Carmenini, D Del Sindaco
1Dipartimento di Cardioscienze, Osp. S. Camillo, Roma, Italy. gipulig@tin.it
La Clinica Terapeutica
|August 13, 2003
Summary
Managing elderly heart failure patients requires addressing barriers to treatment compliance. Multidisciplinary disease management programs show promise in reducing hospitalizations and improving patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Cardiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Heart failure is a common diagnosis in elderly hospitalized patients, often complicated by coexisting conditions.
- Despite pharmacotherapy advances, high hospitalization rates persist due to psychosocial, behavioral, and financial barriers to treatment compliance.
- Optimizing long-term management of elderly heart failure patients is a critical healthcare challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent models for optimizing the long-term management of elderly patients with heart failure.
- To identify effective strategies for improving treatment adherence and reducing hospitalizations in this population.
Main Methods:
- A review of significant and recent disease management models for heart failure was performed.
Main Results:
- Specialized multidisciplinary heart failure disease management programs have demonstrated efficacy.
- These programs reduce hospital utilization and healthcare costs.
- Improvements are noted in quality of life, functional capacity, patient satisfaction, and adherence to diet and medications.
Conclusions:
- Implementing proven treatments and disease management systems effectively remains the primary challenge.
- Further efforts are needed to overcome barriers and ensure successful management of elderly heart failure patients.