RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Non-cardiac comorbidities in chronic heart failure
JF Heart
JO Heart
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Cardiovascular Society
SP 665
OP 671
DO 10.1136/hrt.2005.068296
VO 93
IS 6
A1 Chim C Lang
A1 Donna M Mancini
YR 2007
UL http://heart.bmj.com/content/93/6/665.abstract
AB Non-cardiac comorbidity complicates heart failure care and is prevalent in one form or another for the majority of elderly patients with heart failure. This wide range of comorbidities, which includes respiratory comorbidities, renal dysfunction, anaemia, arthritis, cognitive dysfunction and depression, contributes to the progression of the disease and may alter the response to treatment. Polypharmacy is inevitable in these patients. Cardiologists and other physicians caring for patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) need to be vigilant to comorbid conditions that may complicate the care of these patients. Future trials should focus on optimal strategies for the comprehensive management of the elderly patients with CHF with multiple comorbidities rather than the isolated effects of single drugs in younger patients with few or no comorbidities.