Protocolo diagnóstico de la insuficiencia cardiaca crónica en el anciano

The diagnosis of heart failure in the elderly presents different difficulties. Symptoms and signs may be particularly difficult to identify and interpret, as these patients frequently refer astenia, fatigue and cognitive impairment. Being difficult the diagnostic approach of heart failure in the elderly, additional tests as measurement of plasma natriuretic peptide concentrations and echocardiography are needed. Use of cardiac catheterization and further non-invasive imaging test including cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), cardiac computed tomography (cardiac CT), or radionuclide imaging, can be indicated to elucidate with accuracy the syndrome etiology.