Erschienen in:
29.11.2016 | geriatrics: at crossroads of medicine
Heart failure management in the elderly – a public health challenge
verfasst von:
Natasa Cvetinovic, Goran Loncar, Jerneja Farkas, MD, PhD
Erschienen in:
Wiener klinische Wochenschrift
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Sonderheft 7/2016
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Summary
Heart failure (HF) is a rapidly growing public health problem and the leading cause of morbidity, mortality, and hospitalization in populations > 65 years. The elderly HF patients have an increased prevalence of HF with preserved ejection fraction and comorbidities, may present with atypical symptoms and signs, have a higher risk for adverse drug reactions, and worse prognosis as compared with younger patients. Moreover, there is a lack of evidence-based therapies for this population because they are underrepresented in the clinical trials. The elderly are less likely to be evaluated by a cardiologist and to be treated in accordance with recommendations of the current HF guidelines. Although the treatment is improving, it is still suboptimal; therefore, HF in elderly patients requires mobilization of public health services and improvement of treatment strategies.