TY - JOUR
T1 - Non-cardiovascular co-morbidity in elderly patients with heart failure outnumbers cardiovascular co-morbidity
AU - van der Wel, Mark C.
AU - Jansen, Rene W.M.M.
AU - Bakx, J. Carel
AU - Bor, Hans H.J.
AU - OldeRikkert, Marcel G.M.
AU - van Weel, Chris
PY - 2007/6
Y1 - 2007/6
N2 - Background: Patients with heart failure often suffer from multiple co-morbid conditions. However, until now only cardiovascular co-morbidity has been well described. Aims: To understand heart failure in the context of multi-morbidity, by describing the age and sex specific patterns of non-cardiovascular co-morbidity in elderly patients with heart failure in general practice. Methods: All patients aged 65 years and over, diagnosed with heart failure in four practices of the Nijmegen Academic Practice-based Research Network (NPBRN) between January 1999 and December 2003 were selected, and the prevalence of 27 cardio- and non-cardiovascular co-morbidities determined. Results: Of the 269 patients identified (mean age 79 years; 57% women), 80.2% had four or more co-morbidities. With increasing age, a significant increase in the prevalence of non-cardiovascular conditions like visual and hearing impairments, osteoarthritis, dementia and urine incontinence; and a decrease in cardiovascular conditions like myocardial infarction and in women, hypertension, was observed. In patients aged 85 years and over, non-cardiovascular disorders predominated over cardiovascular disorders. Conclusions: In elderly patients with heart failure, the prevalence of non-cardiovascular co-morbidity is very high and exceeds the prevalence of cardiovascular conditions. Diseases such as dementia and osteoarthritis must be taken into account in the management of elderly patients with heart failure.
AB - Background: Patients with heart failure often suffer from multiple co-morbid conditions. However, until now only cardiovascular co-morbidity has been well described. Aims: To understand heart failure in the context of multi-morbidity, by describing the age and sex specific patterns of non-cardiovascular co-morbidity in elderly patients with heart failure in general practice. Methods: All patients aged 65 years and over, diagnosed with heart failure in four practices of the Nijmegen Academic Practice-based Research Network (NPBRN) between January 1999 and December 2003 were selected, and the prevalence of 27 cardio- and non-cardiovascular co-morbidities determined. Results: Of the 269 patients identified (mean age 79 years; 57% women), 80.2% had four or more co-morbidities. With increasing age, a significant increase in the prevalence of non-cardiovascular conditions like visual and hearing impairments, osteoarthritis, dementia and urine incontinence; and a decrease in cardiovascular conditions like myocardial infarction and in women, hypertension, was observed. In patients aged 85 years and over, non-cardiovascular disorders predominated over cardiovascular disorders. Conclusions: In elderly patients with heart failure, the prevalence of non-cardiovascular co-morbidity is very high and exceeds the prevalence of cardiovascular conditions. Diseases such as dementia and osteoarthritis must be taken into account in the management of elderly patients with heart failure.
KW - Co-morbidity
KW - Elderly
KW - General practice
KW - Heart failure
KW - Non-cardiovascular
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34247876037&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ejheart.2007.02.004
DO - 10.1016/j.ejheart.2007.02.004
M3 - Article
SN - 1388-9842
VL - 9
SP - 709
EP - 715
JO - European Journal of Heart Failure
JF - European Journal of Heart Failure
IS - 6-7
ER -