Clinical characteristics of heart failure in the elderly
  
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DOI:10.3724/SP.J.1264.2014.000152
Key words:heart failure  disease characteristics  aged
Author NameAffiliationE-mail
ZHAO Shu-Mei, SHEN Lu-Hua* Cardiovascular Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China shenluhua666@sina.com.cn 
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Abstract:
      Heart failure (HF) is a common cardiovascular disease with higher morbidity and mortality in the aged population. Since the elderly have their own characteristics in the clinical manifestations and therapeutic measures of the disease, special attention should be paid to its clinical diagnosis and management. Generally speaking, ischemic cardiac disease and hypertension are the major causes of HF in the elderly. Because the HF in the elderly is often associated with multi-system, multi-organ diseases, its clinical symptoms are atypical, easily concealed by other clinical situations. With the aid of echocardiography and measurement of NT-proBNP, we can establish a diagnosis. The principles of HF treatment in the elderly are still to control clinical symptoms and improve the quality of life and prognosis. In clinical practice, medication should be modulated according to the specific conditions for each individual, taking the cause of HF, co-morbidities and overall functional status into consideration.
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