Diastolic heart failure in the elderly.
Most elderly patients, particularly women, who have heart failure have a normal ejection fraction. Patients who have this syndrome have severe symptoms of exercise intolerance, frequent hospitalizations, and increased mortality. The pathophysiology and treatment are not well defined. Control of systemic hypertension may be a key to prevention and treatment. Several large trials of specific agents are currently underway.
Kitzman
Dalane W
DW
Wake Forest University Health Sciences Center, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. dkitzman@wfubmc.edu
Daniel
Kurt R
KR