Abstract

NEGRIN EXPOSITO, José Eugenio et al. Risk factors, clinical manifestations and treatment of heart failure in over 65 years-old patients. Rev Cubana Invest Bioméd [online]. 2007, vol.26, n.3, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-3011.

A population-based study was carried out in ten randomly selected family physician` offices in order to find out the etiology, symptoms, signs and treatment of heart failure in over 65 years-old patients. Eight hundred and five cases were surveyed and examined, data on previous diseases, symptoms, signs and therapies at that moment were collected. Those patients with two or more symptoms and signs underwent echocardiogram and in case of systolic and/or diastolic dysfunction, they were classified as heart failure cases. The main etiological factors (single or associated) were blood hypertension in 75,7 % of cases and ischemic cardiopathy in 61,3 %; the combination of effort dyspnea and swollen low limbers was the most common (54 %). Of the total number of patients, 55,1 % used diuretics; 42,5 % took angiotensin- converting enzyme inhibitors; 18,3 % used beta blockers whereas 43,6 % was prescribed Digoxin. Hypertension was the main etiological factor. There were cases of heart failure seen at outpatient service, but with few symptoms. Most of patients were not being properly treated.

Keywords : Heart failure; blood hypertension; dyspnea; angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.

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