Heart Failure

Disease State Hub

Research Summaries

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

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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

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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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