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[Underestimated--diastolic heart failure in elderly patients]
1Geriatrische Klinik, Klinikum Bayreuth.
Zeitschrift Fur Gerontologie Und Geriatrie
|May 1, 1996
Summary
Diastolic heart failure is common in elderly patients, often missed due to normal left ventricular size and systolic function. Early detection of diastolic dysfunction is crucial for appropriate treatment in geriatric care.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Geriatrics
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Aging leads to diastolic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, characterized by increased stiffness and altered relaxation.
- This dysfunction can be exacerbated by conditions like hypertension and coronary heart disease.
- Diastolic heart failure, resulting from impaired LV filling, can be misdiagnosed as systolic dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of diastolic heart failure in elderly inpatients.
- To highlight the importance of recognizing diastolic dysfunction in geriatric cardiology.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of echocardiography results from 253 geriatric inpatients over one year.
- Patients were assessed for heart failure symptoms, LV size, systolic function, and diastolic dysfunction.
Main Results:
- Heart failure symptoms were present in 164 patients; 71% had normal LV size.
- Of those with normal LV size and heart failure symptoms, 38% had normal systolic function.
- A significant portion of patients with normal systolic function exhibited diastolic dysfunction, suggesting it as the primary cause of heart failure.
Conclusions:
- Diastolic left ventricular dysfunction is highly prevalent in elderly inpatients with heart failure.
- The findings underscore the critical need to consider and diagnose diastolic heart failure in the geriatric population to ensure correct management.