Clinical features and outcomes of elderly outpatients with heart failure followed up in hospital cardiology units: data from a large nationwide cardiology database (IN-CHF Registry).
BACKGROUND
Congestive heart failure (HF) represents a major public health problem with an age-related increasing prevalence. Despite the high mortality and morbidity in elderly patients with HF, limited clinical and prognostic data are available for development of appropriate prevention and treatment strategies.


METHODS
A cohort of 3327 outpatients consecutively enrolled in the Registry of Italian Network on Congestive Heart Failure by 133 cardiology centers was studied. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to compare patients <70 and > or =70 years old and to evaluate associations between clinical variables and the 1-year mortality rate and hospitalizations.


RESULTS
With respect to the 2294 patients <70 years old, the 1033 (31%) elderly patients were significantly more likely to be female, to be in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III-IV, and to have preserved left ventricular systolic function (ejection fraction >40%), an ischemic/valvular etiology, and atrial fibrillation/flutter. Elderly patients received angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, beta-blockers, and anticoagulants less frequently than younger patients did. The 1-year mortality rate was significantly higher in patients > or =70 years old (22% vs 13.7%, P <.001). Age was an independent predictor of 1-year mortality, increasing 2.8% by each year of age. Independent predictors of 1-year mortality in elderly patients were (1) > or =1 hospital admission in the previous year (relative risk [RR] 2.09, 95% CI 1.51-2.87), (2) systolic blood pressure (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97-0.99), (3) NYHA class III-IV (RR 1.57, 95% CI 1.20-2.07), and (4) age (RR 1.028, 95% CI 1.001-1.056).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study confirms that elderly patients (1) are seen in a more advanced stage of HF, (2) are less likely to receive evidence-based treatments, (3) show more frequently preserved systolic function, and (4) have a worse prognosis. Consequently, there is a need to develop more effective and targeted management strategies for this escalating health problem.
Pulignano
Giovanni
G
Department of Cardiology, S. Camillo Hospital, Institute of Care and Research, Rome, Italy. gipulig@tin.it
Del Sindaco
Donatella
D
Tavazzi
Luigi
L
Lucci
Donata
D
Gorini
Marco
M
Leggio
Francesco
F
Porcu
Maurizio
M
Scherillo
Marino
M
Opasich
Cristina
C
Di Lenarda
Andrea
A
Senni
Michele
M
Maggioni
Aldo Pietro
AP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome