title: Comorbidities and polypharmacy.
abstract: Heart failure (HF) is predominantly a disease that affects the elderly population, a cohort in which comorbidities are common. The majority of comorbidities and the degree of their severity have prognostic implications in HF. Polypharmacy in HF is common, has increased throughout the past 2 decades, and may pose a risk for adverse drug interactions, accidental overdosing, or medication nonadherence. Polypharmacy, in particular in the elderly, is rarely assessed in traditional clinical trials, highlighting a need for entirely novel HF research strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Oslo University Hospital Ullevål, University of Oslo, Kirkeveien 166, Oslo 0407, Norway; Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Oslo, Kirkeveien 166, Oslo 0407, Norway. Electronic address: tomvonoslo@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Thomas G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: von Lueder
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Oslo University Hospital Ullevål, University of Oslo, Kirkeveien 166, Oslo 0407, Norway; Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Oslo, Kirkeveien 166, Oslo 0407, Norway.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Atar
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019338:Polypharmacy; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Comorbidities; Elderly; Heart failure; Polypharmacy