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Congestive heart failure in elderly patients
1Division of Cardiovascular Diseases and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
Insights
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is rising, especially in the elderly. Many older adults have diastolic heart failure, complicating their care due to other health issues and treatment concerns.
Area of Science:
- Geriatrics
- Cardiology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Increasing prevalence of congestive heart failure (CHF) globally.
- CHF is a leading cause of hospitalization and diagnosis in elderly patients.
- A significant proportion of elderly heart failure cases involve preserved systolic function (diastolic heart failure).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the fundamental principles for evaluating and managing heart failure in the elderly population.
- To address the unique challenges in assessing and treating older adults with heart failure.
- To highlight the specific considerations for diastolic heart failure in geriatric patients.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature and clinical guidelines.
- Analysis of epidemiological data on heart failure in the elderly.
- Synthesis of management strategies tailored for geriatric patients with comorbidities.
Main Results:
- Elderly patients often present with complex comorbidities that influence heart failure management.
- Increased susceptibility to adverse effects from medications and procedures is common in older adults.
- Cost and invasiveness of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions require careful consideration in this demographic.
Conclusions:
- The evaluation and management of heart failure in the elderly necessitate a tailored approach.
- Diastolic heart failure is a prevalent subtype in older individuals and requires specific diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
- Addressing comorbidities and patient-specific factors is crucial for optimizing outcomes in elderly patients with CHF.
Abstract:
The prevalence of congestive heart failure (CHF) is increasing. Most patients with CHF are elderly, and CHF is the most common dismissal diagnosis in elderly hospitalized patients. As many as 50% of elderly patients with heart failure may have normal systolic function and isolated diastolic heart failure. Assessment and management of elderly patients are complicated by comorbidities, increased susceptibility to side effects, and concerns about the appropriate use of costly and invasive procedures. The basics of the approach to the evaluation and management of heart failure in elderly patients are reviewed.