Drug therapy of heart failure in the elderly

Heart failure is a disorder that predominantly affects older adults, with more than 50% of heart failure hospitalizations occurring in persons over 75 years of age. Unfortunately, most of the major heart failure clinical trials have targeted middle-aged patients with systolic heart failure, and the applicability of these studies to elderly patients, particularly those with preserved left ventricular systolic function, remains uncertain. In this paper, current data on the pharmacotherapy of heart failure in older adults are reviewed, recommended approaches to managing systolic and diastolic heart failure are outlined, and the importance of preventive measures is emphasized.