Heart Failure

Disease State Hub

Research Summaries

Heart failure

Moderate Activity Best for Preventing HF in Older Patients

08/18/2015

Recent research investigated whether levels of total physical activity were associated with the risk of developing heart failure.

08/18/2015

Heart failure

Could Palliative Care Benefit Hospitalized Heart Failure Patients?

08/18/2015

A new study finds that palliative care may help address the symptoms of patients hospitalized with heart failure.

08/18/2015

Heart failure

FDA: Novel Heart Failure Treatment Approved

07/08/2015

The FDA has approved new options for the treatment of heart failure and cystic fibrosis, and issued a warning on unapproved prescription ear drops.

07/08/2015

Neurological Disorders and Diseases

Can Heart Failure Medication Treat ALS?

10/29/2014

Researchers examined how digoxin, a heart failure drug, may effect the mechanisms responsible for developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

10/29/2014

Heart Failure

Is Aspirin Any Help in Heart Failure?

03/28/2014

While an aspirin regimen is commonly recommended to patients with high risk of heart attack, its potential benefits to heart failure patients are less clear.

03/28/2014

Heart Failure Snapshot

Reviewed by Michael Bloch, MD

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Heart failure is a chronic condition occurring when the heart cannot pump enough blood and oxygen to support the function of other organs.

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HF Specialists, Cardiologists, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Hospitalists, Primary Care Physicians, Pharmacists

For more on the presentation of heart failure, visit the Clinical Insights page

Symptoms include shortness of breath during usual activities or while lying down, cough, water retention, weight gain, swelling in feet, legs, ankles, or stomach, rapid heartbeat, and fatigue.

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Blood test, chest x-ray, electrocardiogram, stress test, cardiac CT scan, MRI, coronary angiogram, myocardial biopsy, right heart catheterization

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Hypertensio n, d iabete s, o besity, valvular heart disease, c oronary artery disease, s moking tobacco , eating foods high in fat, cholesterol, and sodium, not getting enough physical activity, and excessive alcohol intake

The four classes of the New York Heart Association Classification

Class I: No HF symptoms
Class II: Exertion causes shortness of breath or fatigue
Class III: Difficulty completing everyday activities
Class IV: Shortness of breath occurs at rest

American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Stages of Heart Failure

Stage A: Several risk factors, no HF signs/symptoms
Stage B: Heart disease, no HF signs/symptoms
Stage C: Heart disease & signs of HF
Stage D: Requires specialized treatment

For more content on statins, visit our Resource Center

The number of women at high cardiovascular risk who did not accept their physician's initial recommendation of statin therapy.

Ref: Brown et al.

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The lifetime risk of heart failure remains high: 20% to 45% after the age of 45 across all ethnic and racial groups.

Ref: Tsao et al.

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