Abstract
Several aspects of congestive heart failure are discussed in the light of international literature and of recent findings of our group. The annual incidence of heart failure in elderly subjects, aged ≤ 75 y, is 13 to 50/1000, while it is 1.6/1000 in people aged 45-54 y. The prevalence of heart failure is about 3% in subjects aged 45-64 y, 6% in subjects aged more than 65 y and 10% in subjects aged more than 75 y. These data are confirmed by our population based study in elderly subjects. The etiology of congestive heart failure is similar in elderly and middle-aged patients. However, several anatomo-functional, hormonal and autonomic nervous system changes, typical of congestive heart failure, occur during physiologic ageing processes also. These findings may explain the dramatic evolution of congestive heart failure in elderly patients. Moreover, some features of the elderly - e.g. comorbidity, atypical clinical presentations, loss of autonomy, increased iatrogen risk should be considered. No specific drugs exist for the pharmacologic treatment of heart failure in the elderly, so that the geriatric specificity in the treatment of heart failure can be recognized in the art of drug choice and dosage, to obtain the best results with the least side effects. The multiple etiology of congestive heart failure, the comorbidity, the loss of autonomy and the deterioration of cognitive functions suggest the need for multidimensioal approach and continuative intervention in elderly patients with heart disease, and in particular with congestive heart failure. Further studies on disease- and age-related changes are necessary to develop new and more potent. strategies to secure 'successful ageing'.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 201-223 |
| Number of pages | 23 |
| Journal | Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Nov 1996 |
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Keywords
- Aging heart
- Comorbidity
- Congestive heart failure
- Elderly
- Epidemiology
- Etiology
- Pathophysiology
- Quality of Life
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ageing
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
Congestive heart failure in the elderly. / Rengo, F.; Acanfora, D.; Trojano, L.; Furgi, G.; Picone, C.; Iannuzzi, G. L.; Vitale, D. F.; Rengo, C.; Ferrara, N.
In: Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Vol. 23, No. 3, 11.1996, p. 201-223.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Congestive heart failure in the elderly
AU - Rengo, F.
AU - Acanfora, D.
AU - Trojano, L.
AU - Furgi, G.
AU - Picone, C.
AU - Iannuzzi, G. L.
AU - Vitale, D. F.
AU - Rengo, C.
AU - Ferrara, N.
PY - 1996/11
Y1 - 1996/11
N2 - Several aspects of congestive heart failure are discussed in the light of international literature and of recent findings of our group. The annual incidence of heart failure in elderly subjects, aged ≤ 75 y, is 13 to 50/1000, while it is 1.6/1000 in people aged 45-54 y. The prevalence of heart failure is about 3% in subjects aged 45-64 y, 6% in subjects aged more than 65 y and 10% in subjects aged more than 75 y. These data are confirmed by our population based study in elderly subjects. The etiology of congestive heart failure is similar in elderly and middle-aged patients. However, several anatomo-functional, hormonal and autonomic nervous system changes, typical of congestive heart failure, occur during physiologic ageing processes also. These findings may explain the dramatic evolution of congestive heart failure in elderly patients. Moreover, some features of the elderly - e.g. comorbidity, atypical clinical presentations, loss of autonomy, increased iatrogen risk should be considered. No specific drugs exist for the pharmacologic treatment of heart failure in the elderly, so that the geriatric specificity in the treatment of heart failure can be recognized in the art of drug choice and dosage, to obtain the best results with the least side effects. The multiple etiology of congestive heart failure, the comorbidity, the loss of autonomy and the deterioration of cognitive functions suggest the need for multidimensioal approach and continuative intervention in elderly patients with heart disease, and in particular with congestive heart failure. Further studies on disease- and age-related changes are necessary to develop new and more potent. strategies to secure 'successful ageing'.
AB - Several aspects of congestive heart failure are discussed in the light of international literature and of recent findings of our group. The annual incidence of heart failure in elderly subjects, aged ≤ 75 y, is 13 to 50/1000, while it is 1.6/1000 in people aged 45-54 y. The prevalence of heart failure is about 3% in subjects aged 45-64 y, 6% in subjects aged more than 65 y and 10% in subjects aged more than 75 y. These data are confirmed by our population based study in elderly subjects. The etiology of congestive heart failure is similar in elderly and middle-aged patients. However, several anatomo-functional, hormonal and autonomic nervous system changes, typical of congestive heart failure, occur during physiologic ageing processes also. These findings may explain the dramatic evolution of congestive heart failure in elderly patients. Moreover, some features of the elderly - e.g. comorbidity, atypical clinical presentations, loss of autonomy, increased iatrogen risk should be considered. No specific drugs exist for the pharmacologic treatment of heart failure in the elderly, so that the geriatric specificity in the treatment of heart failure can be recognized in the art of drug choice and dosage, to obtain the best results with the least side effects. The multiple etiology of congestive heart failure, the comorbidity, the loss of autonomy and the deterioration of cognitive functions suggest the need for multidimensioal approach and continuative intervention in elderly patients with heart disease, and in particular with congestive heart failure. Further studies on disease- and age-related changes are necessary to develop new and more potent. strategies to secure 'successful ageing'.
KW - Aging heart
KW - Comorbidity
KW - Congestive heart failure
KW - Elderly
KW - Epidemiology
KW - Etiology
KW - Pathophysiology
KW - Quality of Life
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0030293132&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0030293132&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0167-4943(96)00734-0
DO - 10.1016/S0167-4943(96)00734-0
M3 - Article
C2 - 15374141
AN - SCOPUS:0030293132
VL - 23
SP - 201
EP - 223
JO - Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
JF - Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics
SN - 0167-4943
IS - 3
ER -