Case study four: Mrs Yelena Kozlov is a 78 year old woman who emigrated to Australia when she was 22. She is widowed, and her children live interstate.

Case study four

Mrs Yelena Kozlov is a 78 year old woman who emigrated to Australia when she was 22. She is widowed, and her children live interstate. She presented to her GPs office with increased shortness of breath and “heavy feet”. He has a history of hypertension, but no other significant cardiac history. She is currently on Atenolol 50mg BD.

On physical examination she has dyspnoea, her ankles are oedematous and she mentions she has been sleeping in her chair. Vital signs 72 bpm, blood pressure of 140/90, resp rate of 28 bpm, SpO2 of 92% on room air.

After review and an ECHO cardiography, Mrs Yelena was diagnosed with heart failure and commenced on frusemide 40mg BD and digoxin 62.5 mcg