Research carried out by Newcastle University and funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) has found that many elderly people suffer from breathlessness and other early symptoms of heart failure.

The researchers visited almost 400 elderly people in their homes and carried out an echocardiogram.   They found 26 per cent of them had a previously undiagnosed heart problem.

If caught in time these symptoms would be treatable with commonly prescribed drugs such as beta-blockersor ACE inhibitors.

Professor Bernard Keavne of the BHF said:-   “We were surprised to discover just how many older people have heart problems. Many could be treated with drugs that we know work, if their condition were recognised.
With heart failure, prevention is definitely a priority. Older patients coming into hospital with worsening heart failure is one of the largest sources of expenditure for the NHS.”

Source:  The Heart;       BHF;      The Scotsman