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Aging of the United States Population: Impact on Heart Failure

  • Epidemiology of Heart Failure (J Butler, Section Editor)
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Abstract

The United States population, particularly among older age groups, continues to expand. Because the incidence of heart failure increases with age, largely due to the development of heart failure risk factors such as hypertension and coronary artery disease, the epidemic of heart failure is likely to grow further in the coming decades. This article will review the epidemiology of heart failure among older adults, the influence of an aging population on heart failure prevalence and phenotype, the complications in management for a larger and older heart failure population, and the potential implications of these changes for health care costs and delivery. Ultimately, these challenges demand research into optimal therapeutic strategies for older heart failure patients, including improved prevention and treatment of the major causes of heart failure, an increasing role forpalliative care, and innovations in patient-centered health care delivery.

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Acknowledgement

L.A. Allen is supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (Grant 1K23HL105896) and by a Scientist Development Grant from the American Heart Association. R. Vigen is supported by a Cardiovascular Outcomes Research Fellowship through a Department of Veterans Affairs Graduate Medical Education Enhancement Grant. T.M. Maddox is supported by a Health Services Research and Development Career Development Award from thr U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Disclosure

R. Vigen, none; T. M. Maddox, none. L. A. Allen is a board member for the Boettcher Foundation and a consultant for Amgen and Johnson & Johnson.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Academic Office 1, 12631 E. 17th Avenue, Campus Box B-130, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA

    Rebecca Vigen, Thomas M. Maddox & Larry A. Allen

  2. VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, 1055 Clermont Street, Cardiology (111B), Denver, CO, 80220, USA

    Rebecca Vigen & Thomas M. Maddox

  3. Colorado Cardiovascular Outcomes Research Consortium, Denver, CO, USA

    Rebecca Vigen, Thomas M. Maddox & Larry A. Allen

  4. University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center, Mailstop B130, Academic Office 1, Room 7109 12631 E. 17th Ave, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA

    Larry A. Allen

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  1. Rebecca Vigen
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  2. Thomas M. Maddox
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Correspondence to Rebecca Vigen.

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Vigen, R., Maddox, T.M. & Allen, L.A. Aging of the United States Population: Impact on Heart Failure. Curr Heart Fail Rep 9, 369–374 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11897-012-0114-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11897-012-0114-8

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