Plan de cuidados de enfermería de paciente geriátrico. Caso clínico.

Abstract

Nowadays about 1% of the population over 40 suffers from heart failure. This is more likely to occur in people over 70, where the number of cases is ten times higher. Furthermore, heart failure is the third most common cause of mortality in Spain. Despite being properly treated it is still a progressive disease that can be potentially fatal, remaining one of the greatest challenges for the health sector. Heart failure tends to increase and will increase over the years due to a generally ageing population. Due to the multiple changes that occur in the ageing process, elderly patients with heart failure usually present nonspecific symptoms such as mental confusion, pneumonia and geriatric syndromes like falls, incontinence, immobility and sudden deterioration in their overall condition which leads to being unable to carry out daily life activities. This hardens the task of diagnosing and treating this condition, leading to higher rates of cardiac decompensation cases and hospital admissions, as well as inadequately controlled symptoms and a poor prognosis. Despite new advances in its treatment, heart failure continues having a poor prognosis and a high mortality rate, due to the complexity of its prevention and its treatment which require primary and secondary prevention strategies, a close follow up by the nursing staff and health education for the patient and his family, based on their background knowledge and individual needs.