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Geriatric Conditions in Heart Failure

  • Elderly and Cardiovascular Disease (DE Forman and JM Gaziano, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

As the U.S. population ages, the prevalence of geriatric conditions in patients with heart failure is increasing, although they currently fall outside the traditional heart failure disease model. In this review, we describe the co-occurrence of four common geriatric conditions (cognitive impairment, frailty, falls, and incontinence) in older adults with heart failure, their mechanisms of interaction, and their association with outcomes. We propose a new paradigm to meet the needs of the aging heart failure population that includes comprehensive assessment of geriatric conditions and tailoring of therapy and surveillance accordingly. Coordination among relevant disciplines such as cardiology and geriatrics may facilitate this transition. Further research is needed in order to understand how to optimize care for patients with specific impairments in order to improve outcomes.

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Disclosure

No potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.

Funding Sources

Dr. Dodson is supported by a training grant in Geriatric Clinical Epidemiology from the National Institute on Aging (T32 AG019134) and a Clinical Research Loan Repayment Award from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Dr. Chaudhry is supported by a Beeson Career Development Award from the National Institute on Aging (K23 AG030986).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    John A. Dodson

  2. Section of Geriatrics, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    John A. Dodson

  3. Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, Harkness Office Building, Room 411, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA

    Sarwat I. Chaudhry

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  1. John A. Dodson
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Correspondence to Sarwat I. Chaudhry.

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Dodson, J.A., Chaudhry, S.I. Geriatric Conditions in Heart Failure. Curr Cardiovasc Risk Rep 6, 404–410 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12170-012-0259-8

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