Multimorbidity in Older Adults with Heart Failure.
Multimorbidity is common among older adults with heart failure and creates diagnostic and management challenges. Diagnosis of heart failure may be difficult, as many conditions commonly found in older persons produce dyspnea, exercise intolerance, fatigue, and weakness; no singular pathognomonic finding or diagnostic test differentiates them from one another. Treatment may also be complicated, as multimorbidity creates high potential for drug-disease and drug-drug interactions in settings of polypharmacy. The authors suggest that management of multimorbid older persons with heart failure be patient, rather than disease-focused, to best meet patients' unique health goals and minimize risk from excessive or poorly-coordinated treatments.
['Dharmarajan|Kumar|K|', 'Dunlay|Shannon M|SM|']
D000368:Aged D015897:Comorbidity D055317:Evidence-Based Practice D006333:Heart Failure D006801:Humans D000069342:Medical Overuse D018802:Patient-Centered Care
Multimorbidity Heart failure Polypharmacy Cognitive impairment Geriatrics Health outcomes Multiple chronic conditions Quality of care