Noncardiac co – morbidities in elderly patients with heart failure

Abstract

Background: The population of elderly persons with heart failure (HF) is on the increase, and HF is associated with multiple morbidities, but the common noncard'iac comorbidities have not been established. Objective: The objective of the study is to determine the common noncard'iac comorbidities in elderly patients with HF. Materials and Methods: The following data were retrieved from the HF register demographics: cause of HF, type of HF (reduced or preserved ejection fraction), and comorbidities. The comorbidities were: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), renal dysfunction, osteoarthritis, and cerebrovascular accident (CVA). The others were: diabetes mellitus (DM), anemia, obesity, and cancer. The frequencies of these comorbidities were determined. Student's t-test and Chi-square tests were applied as appropriate. Results: There were 204 cases; the mean age was 74.73 ± 7.34 years. The frequencies of comorbidities were: DM 68 (33.3%), renal dysfunction 53 (26%), osteoarthritis 44 (21.6%), and COPD 29 (14.2%). The others were: anemia 26 (12.7%), CVA 18 (8.8%), obesity 8 (3.9%), and cancer 3 (1.5%). The prevalence of HF with reduced and preserved ejection fraction was 88 (43.1%) and 116 (56.9%), respectively. The association between the number of comorbidities and the type of HF (HF with reduced ejection fraction or HF with preserved ejection fraction) yielded a P = 0.068. Conclusion: The common noncardiac comorbidities in elderly HF patients are DM, renal dysfunction, and osteoarthritis. These conditions should be actively sought for in every elderly patient with HF for more holistic management and better prognosis.