Archives of gerontology and geriatrics
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Arch Gerontol Geriatr · Mar 2008
Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical TrialA propensity-matched study of the association of physical function and outcomes in geriatric heart failure.
Most heart failure (HF) patients are older adults. However, the association of functional status and outcomes in ambulatory older adults with chronic HF has not been well studied. Of the 7788 Digitalis Investigation Group (DIG) trial participants, 4036 were > or =65 years. ⋯ NYHA III-IV class was associated with increased cardiovascular (HR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.04-1.49; p=0.016) and HF mortality (HR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.16-1.97; p=0.002). NYHA III-IV class was not significantly associated with hospitalizations due to all causes (HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.96-1.25; p=0.165), cardiovascular causes (HR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.96-1.29; p=0.150), or worsening HF (HR, 1.09, 95% CI, 0.92-1.30; p=0.330). Baseline NYHA functional class was associated with mortality but not with hospitalization in ambulatory older adults with chronic HF.