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Aging and heart failure: changing demographics and implications for therapy in the elderly

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Abstract

The elderly population (age ≥65) is increasing and with it morbidity, hospitalizations, costs and mortality due to heart failure (HF). HF is a progressive disorder that is superimposed on an on-going aging process. The two broad categories of HF, HF with left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction or low ejection fraction (HF/low-EF) and HF with preserved ejection fraction (HF/PEF) are equally prevalent in the elderly. Trials of therapy for HF/low-EF in primarily non-elderly patients showed mortality benefit in elderly patients. In contrast, trials for HF/PEF have not shown mortality benefit in elderly or non-elderly patients. HF pharmacotherapy in the elderly is challenging and needs to be individualized and consider several aging-related changes. More research into the biology of aging and more clinical trials in elderly patients are needed to improve morbidity and mortality in elderly HF patients.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by grant # from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Ottawa, Ontario. I am indebted to Catherine Jugdutt for assistance.

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  1. Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine and Cardiovascular Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, 2C2 Walter MacKenzie Health Sciences Centre, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2R7, Canada

    Bodh I. Jugdutt

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  1. Bodh I. Jugdutt
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Correspondence to Bodh I. Jugdutt.

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Jugdutt, B.I. Aging and heart failure: changing demographics and implications for therapy in the elderly. Heart Fail Rev 15, 401–405 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10741-010-9164-8

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