Heart Failure in Older People Part 1: Disease State Review and Lifestyle Interventions

The care for patients with heart failure (HF) has evolved greatly over the past decade. While new guidelines have provided more clarity on categorization and staging, and novel agents have been approved for use, there are still questions surrounding the optimal strategies as they relate to diet and exercise. Additionally, overall health care costs have increased for patients, driven in part by medication therapy. Given the myriad comorbidities associated with the diagnosis of HF, senior care pharmacists are positioned to positively impact the care for patients with HF, regardless of setting. As the guidelines continue to evolve, addressing a wider spectrum of the disease, including iron deficiency, mental health, and pain, so must the pharmacist’s role in caring for patients with HF. Senior care pharmacists engaged in the management of older people with HF must be especially attuned to the unique and individualized care each patient needs, offering guidance and education in balancing treatment modalities across all aspects of care. In this three-part series, we will explore a number of areas central to the management of HF. This first section will focus on the cost of treatment, pathophysiology, and non-pharmacologic management. Series two and three will address guideline-directed medication therapy and special population management, respectively.