Heart failure in older adults: embracing complexity

Heart failure (HF), particularly in the setting of preserved systolic function, disproportionately afflicts older individuals and results in significant morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. In the United States, among the Medicare population (age > 65 years), HF is among the leading cause of hospital admissions. Optimal care for older adults with HF requires knowledge of age-related physiologic changes, complex multi-organ, multi-dimensional syndromes, interdisciplinary teamwork and palliative/end of life care.