Heart failure in the elderly: a U.S. perspective

Heart failure (HF) affects 5 million Americans, of whom three-fourths are over age 65 and half are over age 75.' HF is currently the leading cause of hospitalization among older adults in the U.S., and it is the most costly medical illness by a factor of almost two.2 In addition, it is anticipated that the number of older people with HF will double over the next 20-25 years due to the progressive aging of the U.S. population.