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Published on: February 20, 2017
Diagnosis and Management of Heart Failure in Older Adults
Gurusher Panjrath1, Ali Ahmed2
1Department of Medicine, George Washington University, 2150 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 8-416, Washington, DC 20037, USA; Inova Heart and Vascular Institute, Inova Fairfax Hospital, 3300 Gallows Road, Falls Church, VA 22042, USA.
Abstract:
Aging is characterized by heterogeneity, both in health and illness. Older adults with heart failure often have preserved ejection fraction and atypical and delayed clinical manifestations. After diagnosis of heart failure is established, a cause should be sought. The patient's comorbidities may provide clues. An elevated jugular venous pressure is the most reliable clinical sign of fluid volume overload and should be carefully evaluated. Left ventricular ejection fraction must be determined to assess prognosis and guide therapy. These 5 steps, namely, diagnosis, etiologic factor, fluid volume, ejection fraction, and therapy for heart failure may be memorized by mnemonic: DEFEAT-HF.
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