Ageing and heart failure: a challenge for nursing care

Frequent hospital readmission and death are frequent among older HF patients. According to epidemiological data from USA and Europe, the mortality rates remain high despite current medical treatments, with a 5-year survival ranging from 50% to 70%. Ageing population and prolongation of life expectancy of patients with cardiovascular diseases lead to an increasing prevalence of heart failure (HF), posing a challenge for health professionals who have to respond to the needs and problems of a population with high prevalence of co-morbidities.