title: [Heart failure in elderly patients].
abstract: The incidence and prevalence of congestive heart failure increase exponentially with advancing age. Congestive heart failure in the elderly is characterized by a multifactorial etiology, a high proportion of accompanying degenerative changes of the cardiovascular system and age-specific problems regarding diagnosis and treatment. The treatment strategy is the same as in younger patients, but the higher incidence of adverse effects and complications demands special awareness. The majority of decompensations leading to hospitalization are precipitated by insufficient compliance in life style change and drug intake.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000503:physiopathology; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000503:physiopathology; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000503:physiopathology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents
vernacular_title: Die Herzinsuffizienz beim alten Patienten.