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Drug Treatment of Systolic and of Diastolic Heart Failure in Elderly Persons

Department of Medicine, Divisions of Cardiology, Geriatrics, and Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine, Westchester Medical Center/New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York.

Address correspondence to Wilbert S. Aronow, MD, FGSA, Cardiology Division, New York Medical College, Macy Pavillion, Room 138, Valhalla, NY 10595. E-mail: WSAronow{at}aol.com

Underlying causes, risk factors, and precipitating causes of heart failure (HF) should be treated. Patients with HF and an abnormal left ventricular ejection fraction (systolic HF) or normal left ventricular ejection fraction (diastolic HF) should be treated with diuretics if fluid retention is present, with an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker if the patient cannot tolerate an ACE inhibitor because of cough, angioneurotic edema, rash, or altered taste sensation, and with a beta blocker unless contraindicated. If severe systolic HF persists, an aldosterone antagonist should be added. If HF persists, isosorbide dinitrate plus hydralazine should be added. Calcium channel blockers should be avoided if systolic HF is present. Digoxin should be avoided in men and women with diastolic HF if sinus rhythm is present and in women with systolic HF. Digoxin should be given to men with systolic HF if symptoms persist, but the serum digoxin level should be maintained between 0.5 and 0.8 ng/ml. Cardiac synchronized pacing should be considered in patients with severe systolic HF despite optimal medical therapy, with sinus rhythm, and with ventricular dyssynchrony.