Congestive heart failure in the elderly requiring hospital admission

Fifty consecutive elderly (> 60 years) patients admitted to our department with congestive heart failure (CHF) entered a prospective database, to define their main clinical, instrumental and cognitive characteristics. In addition we evaluated the patterns of drug therapy in this aged population. Eighty percent of this sample had been previously hospitalized for CHF. Two or more associated diseases were present in 92%. Heart disease was ischemic or hypertensive in etiology in 80% of patients. Acute dyspnea was the most common presenting symptom. Atrial fibrillation or flutter were found in 38% of patients. Ultrasound evaluation evidenced left ventricular dysfunction of a systolic type in 49% and of a diastolic type in 28.6% of subjects. Diuretics and cardiac glycosides were the most widely administered drugs, followed by ACE-inhibitors, nitrates and dobutamine. Older ( >or= 75 years) patients were treated with more agents, with a trend to a lesser use of dobutamine. Moderate to severe mental deficit was present in 20.8% of our sample, while significant depression was more common (54.2%). The main implications of the clinical profile of the elderly patient hospitalized for CHF are discussed.