title: [Systolic heart failure in the elderly].
abstract: Aging is associated with changes in cardiac and vascular structure, promoting the development of heart failure. An increase in vascular stiffness leads to an increase of systolic arterial pressure and pulse wave velocity. This augments the afterload of the heart, which contributes to cardiac hypertrophy and neuroendocrine activation in the elderly. On the molecular level the age-associated changes in the sympathetic nervous system are similar to alterations that can be found in congestive heart failure. Therapy of systolic heart failure does not differ between the elderly and younger patients. All drugs which have shown to improve the prognosis of younger patients are indicated in the elderly as well. This holds true for ACE-inhibitors or angiotensin receptor antagonists, betablockers and aldosterone antagonists. However, comorbidities as well as changes in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics might require a cautious initiation of the therapy, an individual adjustment of the dosage and a thoroughly monitoring of the elderly patients.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Innere Medizin III, Kardiologie, Angiologie und Internistische Intensivmedizin, Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar. kilter@med-in.uni-sb.de
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kilter
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Böhm
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003971:Diastole / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004071:Digitalis Glycosides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015996:Survival Rate; D013599:Systole / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D004071:Digitalis Glycosides; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists