Abstract
Heart failure (HF) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in older people, and 80% of people with HF are aged over 60 years. HF is the end point for almost all common cardiovascular diseases, as well as many non-cardiovascular diseases. Despite this, HF remains underdetected and undertreated. Detection and treatment of HF has improved significantly in recent years, with several novel treatments developed in the last decade improving outcomes for patients. Therefore, earlier detection and improved treatment of HF has the potential to reduce morbidity and mortality for older people, particularly given the shift in ageing demographics anticipated over the coming decades. The British Geriatrics Society Cardiovascular Specialist Interest Group recently participated in the British Society for Heart Failure (BSH) '25in25' Heart Failure Summit, which aims to reduce deaths due to HF by 25% in the next 25 years. The 2023 summit comprised experts from over 45 top health organisations across Europe, Canada and the US. The summit brought together cross-disciplinary expertise to support the implementation of strategies to improve outcomes for people living with HF, and, in this commentary, we reflect upon the priorities identified. We discuss the current barriers to the early detection and management of HF, and the particular challenges and complexity of managing HF in older people. Finally, we discuss the role of patient empowerment and how this can lead to improved care for older people living with HF.