Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Prognosis of Heart Failure in the Elderly

HF is the quintessential disorder of cardiovascular aging, reflecting the convergence of age-related changes in the cardiovascular system and other organ systems and the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases at older age, especially hypertension and coronary artery disease. As a result, the prevalence and incidence of HF increase progressively with advancing age, and HF imposes an enormous burden on society in mortality, morbidity, and associated health care costs. Moreover, as the population ages it is anticipated that the number of older people with HF will increase dramatically over the next several decades. It is essential that substantial resources be devoted to intensive basic, translational, and clinical research designed to develop more effective strategies for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of HF in our progressively aging population.