Geriatric Heart Failure: Awareness, Evaluation, and Treatment in Primary Care

Heart failure (HF) is a condition with increasing prevalence, high mortality, and frequent readmission. Over 80% of patients diagnosed with HF are over 65 years. Diagnosing geriatric HF is difficult in primary care because symptoms are often atypical. Advanced practice nurses can be actively involved in caring for HF patients by identifying elderly individuals at risk of developing HF, controlling risk factors, providing education in self-management, and minimizing inappropriate medication use. To fulfill those responsibilities, advanced practice nurses require a better understanding of the unique characteristics of geriatric HF, the most recent diagnostic and treatment guidelines, and the indications for timely referral.