Chronic heart failure

Abstract

Age-related changes in the cardiovascular system coupled with the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular disorders with advancing age, especially hypertension, coronary artery disease, and valvular heart disease, lead to a progressive rise in the prevalence of heart failure with increasing age. Nutritional factors may contribute to the development of heart failure and, conversely, heart failure may lead to nutritional deficiencies. Dietary factors also play a key role in heart failure management. This chapter provides an overview of the clinical features of heart failure and reviews the interactions between heart failure, nutrition, and aging. The chapter concludes with a summary of nutritional recommendations for management of older patients with heart failure.