The prevalence of chronic heart failure (CHF) among the elderly in care homes in Aruba is high (31%) and underestimated. B-type natriuretic peptide testing adds value to the usual diagnostic work-up for CHF in these elderly.
ABSTRACT
Objective: Diagnosing chronic heart failure (CHF) is important, since subsequent treatments by medication and cardiac intervention improve quality of life. However, accurate CHF diagnosis in the elderly residing in care homes (residents) is hampered by suboptimal diagnostic tools, co-morbidity and physician’s unawareness of CHF. We sought to estimate the CHF prevalence among Aruban residents.