Comorbidity in heart failure in the elderly.
Heart failure occurs principally in the geriatric population and often is associated with severe comorbidity. Comorbid conditions that occur in the geriatric population at a prevalence equal to or greater than that of heart failure itself include the brain failure syndromes (i.e., delirium and dementia), depression, falls, postural hypotension, urinary incontinence, undernutrition, frailty, sensory deprivation, polypharmacy, and lack of social support. The effect of major geriatric comorbidities on the management of patients with heart failure is reviewed.
Section on Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, and Clinical Director, J. Paul Sticht Center on Aging, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157-1051, USA. pmcgann@wfubmc.edu
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D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007024:Hypotension, Orthostatic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology