The approach to heart failure in the elderly

The prevalence of heart failure increases with age. Several specific changes in cardiac structure and function are associated with cardiac ageing. Because of age-associated changes leading to diastolic dysfunction, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is the most common form of heart failure in the elderly. The diagnosis of heart failure may be difficult to diagnose in elderly patients because of a lack of typical symptoms and physical findings. The elderly patients may respond differently to heart failure medications. Age-associated changes in physiology, comorbidities, drug interaction, medication side-effects, and compliance should be considered when choosing a drug to manage heart failure in the elderly.