The Hidden Threat: Heart Failure in Elderly Diabetic Populations

Diabetes and heart failure have a dangerous correlation, with nearly one third of elderly diabetics experiencing heart failure. As diabetes rates climb worldwide, the number of people with diabetes and heart failure will likely surge as well. This concerning trend disproportionately impacts older populations. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), over one quarter of Americans age 65+ (15.9 million people) have diagnosed or undiagnosed diabetes. The ADA recommends annual heart failure screening for this high-risk group. However, longstanding barriers have made implementation of screening an uphill battle.

28% of elderly patients with diabetes experience heart failure as a complication.

The gold standard for definitively diagnosing heart failure is directly measuring elevated left ventricular end diastolic pressure by invasive cardiac catheterization. But due to their specialized nature, cardiac cath labs have limited capacity and availability. Patients often face long wait times for appointments spanning weeks. Most clinicians first recommend an echocardiogram, which also may involve lengthy delays for scheduling and completing the multi-step procedure. For elderly patients, getting to multiple appointments poses difficulties, especially those impacted by transportation limitations, disabilities, and other socioeconomic disadvantages. As a result, many at-risk seniors remain undiagnosed until the symptoms of heart failure escalate, and hospitalization is required.

Bright Spots on the Horizon

Fortunately, advances in noninvasive technologies are removing obstacles to diagnosis and bringing heart failure screening within reach. One innovative solution uses a simple blood pressure cuff, wireless EKG patch, and tablet app to provide clinicians with an estimated left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) in just minutes. This aids in detecting elevated filling pressure, the hemodynamic hallmark of heart failure, early in the disease progression.

The breakthrough device is fast, mobile, and easy for clinicians to administer at the point of care, from the clinic to the home health care setting. Its convenience and portability bypass many barriers that have historically prevented disadvantaged populations from obtaining critical heart failure diagnosis. Impacts of transportation limitations, disabilities, socioeconomics, and language differences are significantly reduced. More at-risk patients can be reached, and heart failure identified earlier so that treatment can begin sooner, when interventions are most effective.

Research studies completed with one innovative solution also confirm its effectiveness for aiding in the diagnosis of heart failure in elderly diabetic populations. The solution detected elevated filling pressures in nearly one third of the Medicare-eligible seniors’ population with diabetes.

Turning Back the Tide

For health care organizations, earlier heart failure diagnosis paves the way for better disease management, healthier patients, and lower costs. Patient education and medications can help slow progression to later stages. By shifting the diagnosis earlier in the disease progression, organizations can proactively implement care management strategies to manage the disease and avoid utilization of high-cost in-patient care. Value-based care organizations can also take advantage of increased clinical and financial outcomes to offset expenses for managing complex patients. With annual screening, the chronic condition is consistently validated so health plans can prospectively share details with clinicians to facilitate ongoing evaluation and optimal treatment.

This innovative noninvasive technology brings accurate heart failure testing out of the cath lab and directly into any care setting with a trained clinician administering. By expanding the care setting, more at-risk seniors can be evaluated early when treatment is most effective. Healthcare organizations can finally implement clinical best practices to detect heart failure early and curb this hidden threat. The outcome is healthier patients, reduced hospitalizations, and lower costs for organizations bearing risk under value-based contracts.

About the Author

Sean Brady has served as the chief executive officer and a co-founder of Ventric Health since April 2014. Sean is responsible for driving the organization's operational, commercial, and financial performance, and is committed to furthering Ventric's vision to bring noninvasive cardiovascular testing to everyone. In addition to leading Ventric Health, Sean has a passion for university-based start-up organizations where he provides mentorship and counsel.

Sean holds a BA from the University of Iowa and a JD from the New York University School of Law. He resides in Altadena, California, with his wife and 3 children.