[The epidemiology of heart failure in the elderly].
OBJECTIVE
To find the prevalence and aetiology of chronic cardiac failure (CCF) among elderly people in a health area.


METHODS
Retrospective, crossover study.


METHODS
Delicias Sur Health Centre, Zaragoza.


METHODS
A representative sample of the population over 65 registered at the Health Centre. Systematic random sampling: n = 1,635.


RESULTS
104 cases of cardiac failure were identified, which corresponded to a 6.3% (+/- 0.01) prevalence. By age groups, prevalence was 4.5% (+/- 0.01) for the 65-74 group and 8.5% (+/- 0.02) for those over 75. Regarding aetiology, 50.9% was due to arterial hypertension, 21.2% coronary failure, 22.1% valvulopathies and 17.3% reason unknown.


CONCLUSIONS
CCF prevalence in the community increases with age and in our ambit exceeds that found in other countries. Almost half the cases are related to arterial hypertension.
Gallego Catalán
J A
JA
Centro de Salud Delicias Sur, Zaragoza.
García Domínguez
S
S
Anaya Casbas
M T
MT
Alvarez Pardo
J L
JL
Aznar Giménez
R
R
Córdoba García
R
R
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
Epidemiología de la insuficiencia cardíaca en el anciano.