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What Is A Typical Life Expectancy For A Person With Low BP And CHF?
Question: Hello Dr. Shinas XXXXXXX Further to my earlier email about my 91year old father with congestive heart failure. It turns out his blood pressure is very low, around 50-60/40. What is a typical life expectancy for a person like this? Thank you.
Brief Answer:
about six months to one year.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
The prognosis of CCF (congestive cardiac failure) will depend on many factors.
In this case, he has got very low blood pressure so that we can not start drugs like Lasix which is the commonly prescribed drug to reduce the congestion.
You can go for an echocardiography test to assess ejection fraction of his heart. Prognosis greatly depends on ejection fraction.
As the age is on the higher side and lower BP, the prognosis will be bad and I think probably six months to one year will be his life expectancy.
Please consult a cardiologist for further management.
Thanks
about six months to one year.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
The prognosis of CCF (congestive cardiac failure) will depend on many factors.
In this case, he has got very low blood pressure so that we can not start drugs like Lasix which is the commonly prescribed drug to reduce the congestion.
You can go for an echocardiography test to assess ejection fraction of his heart. Prognosis greatly depends on ejection fraction.
As the age is on the higher side and lower BP, the prognosis will be bad and I think probably six months to one year will be his life expectancy.
Please consult a cardiologist for further management.
Thanks
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Thank you very much for your insight. In fact, the cardiologist and GP have discontinued the heart medication and blood pressure medication. My father has some days when he feels much better, and other days he can't hardly get out of bed or eat. But the doctor was pessimistic, and said his end could happen anytime. They would not even estimate.
My father has all the general symptoms of late stage congestive heart failure that began suddenly in February. So given this picture of the discontinuation of medicine and supervision by palliative care, should we be pessimistic and assume that his end may come even sooner than 6 months?
My father has all the general symptoms of late stage congestive heart failure that began suddenly in February. So given this picture of the discontinuation of medicine and supervision by palliative care, should we be pessimistic and assume that his end may come even sooner than 6 months?
Brief Answer:
Only supportive treatment possible.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Unfortunately only supportive treatment left.
Medicines can prolong his life to few weeks.
You can chose either to continue or to stop the medicine. You can take him home for the final phase of his life rather than being in a hospital, everything is up to you.
Anything can happen anytime and you have to be prepared for the worst.
Only supportive treatment possible.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Unfortunately only supportive treatment left.
Medicines can prolong his life to few weeks.
You can chose either to continue or to stop the medicine. You can take him home for the final phase of his life rather than being in a hospital, everything is up to you.
Anything can happen anytime and you have to be prepared for the worst.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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