Heart Failure in the Elderly: Characteristics of a Swedish Primary Health Care Population

Background: Heart failure (HF) is a challenge to diagnose and treat according to guidelines. Few studies have been performed in elderly subjects with symptoms that might be associated with HF in primary health care. Objective: To study elderly patients presenting with symptoms possibly associated with HF, with respect to systolic and diastolic function, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels and treatment. Methods: A cardiologist examined 415 elderly (65–82 years) patients with symptoms of dyspnoea, fatigue and/or peripheral oedema. All patients underwent echocardiography and plasma BNP determination. Systolic function was determined semiquantitatively, and ejection fraction (EF)