This two-part poll (part 1, part 2) included the following clinical vignette: An 89-year-old man with progressive effort intolerance, abdominal bloating, and lower extremity edema presents for evaluation of heart failure (HF) in the setting of preserved ejection fraction. He has a history of a stroke. He has several previous admissions for acute decompensated HF. He comes to the appointment in a wheelchair given his limited mobility.

The aim of the poll question was to ascertain whether the reader would consider initiating guideline-based care for transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis.

Part 2 of the poll used the same patient, and respondents were asked the same question. However, in this part, respondents were provided information on the patient's geriatric conditions and considerations.

The results of both polls are interesting.

When given the information on the older adult patient with transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) without the associated geriatric conditions in the vignette (part 1), approximately 67% thought that they would consider starting treatment for ATTR with guideline-based treatment such as tafamidis. Approximately 14% responded that they would not consider starting tafamidis and approximately 19% thought they needed more information.

With the inclusion of geriatrician consultation in part 2 of the poll, the sample size dropped dramatically, with only 31 respondents. Of those 31, approximately the same proportion agreed that they would offer guideline-based care for ATTR (61%). However, 39% thought they would not offer guideline-based care for ATTR.

The poll results highlight a crucial need for more education and improved processes to integrate geriatric principles into routine cardiovascular (CV) care. Understanding these principles, along with the various geriatric conditions, is key to providing patient-centered care and reducing both major CV events and serious adverse events. Geriatric cardiology is an emerging field, and much more work is needed to advance it. The expert analysis "Tafamidis for Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis in Older Adults With Associated Geriatric Conditions" shares more insight into this topic.