Features of the clinical course and treatment of chronic heart failure in the elderly (review)

Chronic heart failure (CHF) takes a leading place in the structure of morbidity and among the causes of mortality in most economically developed countries of the world. At the same time, the number of patients with heart failure doubles for each subsequent decade, especially increasing after 75 years. The most common causes of heart failure in old age include atherosclerotic and post-infarction cardio sclerosis, acquired and congenital heart defects, and arterial hypertension. An increase in the life expectancy of the population and an increase in the proportion of elderly and senile people in the structure of the population contribute to an increase in the number of pathological conditions in them. The article is devoted to chronic heart failure in people of age. The prevalence of the disease, risk factors, clinical features and treatment of heart failure in old age are highlighted. During the observation, 68 (54%) patients who received a placebo died, but only 50 (39%) patients who used enalapril. This indicates a significant decrease in mortality - an average of 27%. In the following years, several dozen randomized trials were performed, which generally confirmed the results of the CONSENSUS study. When collecting a patient's life history abroad, it is recommended to pay special attention to such information as living conditions, data on caring for sick people, information about the hospitalized person's response to emergencies, and use specialized questionnaires to identify cognitive impairment (Arnold M., Miller F., 2002). Thus, the data presented indicate that the management of patients of an older age group with heart failure has a number of features. Their knowledge can help improve the results of therapy, especially for primary care physicians.