title: Patterns of comorbidity in older adults with heart failure: the Cardiovascular Research Network PRESERVE study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether the total burden of comorbidity and pattern of co-occurring conditions varies in individuals with heart failure (HF) with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (HF-P) or HF with reduced LVEF (HF-R).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four participating health plans within the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-sponsored Cardiovascular Research Network.
  
  
  METHODS
  All members aged 65 and older with HF based on hospital discharge and ambulatory visit diagnoses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants with a LVEF of 50% or greater were classified as having HF-P. Presence of cardiac and noncardiac comorbidities was obtained from health plan administrative databases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 23,435 individuals identified with HF and LVEF information, 53% (12,407) had confirmed HF-P (mean age 79.6; 60% female). More than three-quarters of the sample had three or more co-occurring conditions in addition to HF, and half had five or more cooccurring conditions. Participants with HF-P had a slightly higher burden of comorbidity than those with HF-R (mean 4.5 vs 4.4, P = .002). Patterns of how specific conditions co-occurred did not vary in participants with preserved or reduced systolic function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a high degree of comorbidity and multiple morbidity in individuals with HF. The burden and pattern of comorbidity varies only slightly in individuals with preserved or reduced LVEF.
authors: Meyers Primary Care Institute and Fallon Community Health Plan, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, USA. Jane.saczynski@umassmed.edu
authors: Jane S
authors: JS
authors: Saczynski
authors: Alan S
authors: AS
authors: Go
authors: David J
authors: DJ
authors: Magid
authors: David H
authors: DH
authors: Smith
authors: David D
authors: DD
authors: McManus
authors: Larry
authors: L
authors: Allen
authors: Jessica
authors: J
authors: Ogarek
authors: Robert J
authors: RJ
authors: Goldberg
authors: Jerry H
authors: JH
authors: Gurwitz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity / Q000639:trends; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004066:Digestive System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013318:Stroke Volume; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult