Free Essay

Heart Failure

In:

Submitted By chamilton
Words 2220
Pages 9
Definition
Heart failure occurs when abnormal cardiac function causes failure of the heart to pump blood at a rate sufficient for metabolic requirements under normal filling pressure. It is characterised clinically by breathlessness, effort intolerance, fluid retention, and poor survival. Fluid retention and the congestion related to this can often be relieved with diuretic therapy. However, diuretic therapy should generally not be used alone and, if required, should be combined with the pharmacological therapies outlined in this review. Heart failure can be caused by systolic or diastolic dysfunction, and is associated with neurohormonal changes. [1] Left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) is defined as a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) below 0.40. It may be symptomatic or asymptomatic. Defining and diagnosing diastolic heart failure can be difficult. Recently proposed criteria include: (1) clinical evidence of heart failure; (2) normal or mildly abnormal left ventricular systolic function; (3) evidence of abnormal left ventricular relaxation, filling, diastolic distensibility, or diastolic stiffness; and (4) evidence of elevated N-terminal-probrain natriuretic peptide. [2] However, assessment of some of these criteria is not standardised
Top of Form

Search the BMJ[pic][pic]
Bottom of Form • BMJ • BMJ Journals • BMJ Careers • BMJ Learning • Evidence Centre • BMJ Group
[pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic] [pic]
Home | Log in | Athens Log in | Shibboleth Log in | Help | Contact us
[pic]
Sections
Full review list
Top of Form
[pic][pic]
Bottom of Form Conditions Subscribe Resources About us Contact us Contribute

Cardiovascular disorders

Heart failure

Robert McKelvie
• Interventions
• Key points
• About this condition
• Updates (62)
• Guidelines (28)
• References
• Your responses

In this section:

Definition | Incidence / Prevalence | Aetiology / Risk factors | Prognosis | Aims of intervention | Outcomes | Methods
Top

Definition

Heart failure occurs when abnormal cardiac function causes failure of the heart to pump blood at a rate sufficient for metabolic requirements under normal filling pressure. It is characterised clinically by breathlessness, effort intolerance, fluid retention, and poor survival. Fluid retention and the congestion related to this can often be relieved with diuretic therapy. However, diuretic therapy should generally not be used alone and, if required, should be combined with the pharmacological therapies outlined in this review. Heart failure can be caused by systolic or diastolic dysfunction, and is associated with neurohormonal changes. [1] Left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) is defined as a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) below 0.40. It may be symptomatic or asymptomatic. Defining and diagnosing diastolic heart failure can be difficult. Recently proposed criteria include: (1) clinical evidence of heart failure; (2) normal or mildly abnormal left ventricular systolic function; (3) evidence of abnormal left ventricular relaxation, filling, diastolic distensibility, or diastolic stiffness; and (4) evidence of elevated N-terminal-probrain natriuretic peptide. [2] However, assessment of some of these criteria is not standardised.
Top

Incidence / Prevalence

Both incidence and prevalence of heart failure increase with age. Studies of heart failure in the US and UK found annual incidence in people 45 years or over to be between 29 and 32 cases/1000 persons/year, and, in those over 85 years of age, incidence was considerably higher, at 45 to 90 cases/1000 persons/year. [3] [4] The study carried out in the US reported a decline in incidence of heart failure (all age groups) over a 10-year period, with incidence falling from 32.2 cases/1000 persons/year in 1994 to 29.1 cases/1000 persons/year in 2003. [4] However, analysis of those aged 65 years or over indicated an increase in prevalence of heart failure (from 89.9 cases/1000 people in 1994 to 121 cases/1000 people in 2003). Prevalence of heart failure was higher in men (130 cases/1000 men) compared with women (115 cases/1000 women). [4] In older people (65 years or over), incidence of heart failure after a myocardial infarction (MI) is on the rise, with one study finding an increase of 25.1% in in-hospital heart failure (from 31.4% to 39.3%, P = 0.001). [5]Furthermore, the study noted that 76% of people who survived MI had developed heart failure at 5 years' follow-up. Prevalence of asymptomatic LVSD is 3% in the general population, and the mean age of people with asymptomatic LVSD is lower than that of symptomatic individuals. [6] Both heart failure and asymptomatic LVSD are more common in men. [6] Prevalence of diastolic heart failure in the community is unknown. Prevalence of heart failure with preserved systolic function in people in hospital with clinical heart failure varies from 13% to 74%. [7] [8] Less than 15% of people with heart failure under 65 years of age have normal systolic function, whereas prevalence is about 40% in people over 65 years of age. [7]
Top

Aetiology / Risk factors

Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of heart failure. [9] Other common causes include hypertension and idiopathic dilated congestive cardiomyopathy. After adjustment for hypertension, the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy remains a risk factor for the development of heart failure. Other risk factors include cigarette smoking, hyperlipidaemia, and diabetes mellitus. [6] The common causes of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction are coronary artery disease and systemic hypertension. Other causes are hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, restrictive or infiltrative cardiomyopathies, and valvular heart disease. [8]
Top

Prognosis

The prognosis of heart failure is poor, with 5-year mortality ranging from 26% to 75%. [9] Up to 16% of people are re-admitted with heart failure within 6 months of first admission. In the US, heart failure is the leading cause of hospital admission among people over 65 years of age. [9] In people with heart failure, a new MI increases the risk of death (RR 7.8, 95% CI 6.9 to 8.8). About one third of all deaths in people with heart failure are preceded by a major ischaemic event. [10] Sudden death, mainly caused by ventricular arrhythmia, is responsible for 25% to 50% of all deaths, and is the most common cause of death in people with heart failure. Women with heart failure have a 15% to 20% lower risk of total and cardiovascular mortality compared with men with heart failure: risk after adjustment for demographic and social economic characteristics, comorbidities, cardiovascular treatments, and LVEF. [11] The presence of asymptomatic LVSD increases an individual's risk of having a cardiovascular event. One large prevention trial found that the risk of heart failure, admission for heart failure, and death increased linearly as ejection fraction fell (for each 5% reduction in ejection fraction: RR for mortality 1.20, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.29; RR for hospital admission 1.28, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.38; RR for heart failure 1.20, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.26). [12] The annual mortality for people with diastolic heart failure varies in observational studies (1–18%). [7] Reasons for this variation include age, presence of coronary artery disease, and variation in the partition value used to define abnormal ventricular systolic function. The annual mortality for left ventricular diastolic dysfunction is lower than that found in people with systolic dysfunction. [12]
Top

Aims of intervention

To relieve symptoms; to improve quality of life; and to reduce morbidity and mortality with minimum adverse effects.
Top

Outcomes

Effects of treatments in people with heart failure: mortality; functional capacity(assessed by the New York Heart Association functional classification or more objectively by using standardised exercise testing or the 6-minute walk test); [13]hospital admission rates; quality of life (assessed with questionnaires); [14]adverse effects of treatment. Effects of ACE inhibitors in people at high risk of heart failure: mortality; cardiovascular events (including non-fatal MI); hospital admission rates; adverse effects of treatment. Proxy measures of clinical outcome (e.g., LVEF) are used only when clinical outcomes are unavailable. Where a study reported only the composite outcome of death or hospital admission, we have reported this under hospital admission.
Top

Methods

Clinical Evidence search and appraisal May 2009. The following databases were used to identify studies for this systematic review (SR): Medline 1966 to May 2009, Embase 1980 to May 2009, and The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 2 (1966 to date of issue). An additional search within The Cochrane Library was carried out for the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE) and Health Technology Assessment (HTA). We also searched for retractions of studies included in the review. Abstracts of the studies retrieved from the initial search were assessed by an information specialist. Selected studies were then sent to the contributor for additional assessment, using predetermined criteria to identify relevant studies. Study design criteria for inclusion in this review were: published SRs of RCTs and RCTs in any language, at least single blinded (unless blinding was impossible), and containing more than 100 individuals of whom more than 80% were followed up. Generally, RCTs with less than 500 people have been excluded because of the number of large RCTs available. If, for any comparison, large RCTs or systematic reviews were found, then smaller RCTs have been excluded, even if they include more than 500 people. Size of follow-up was 80% or more. There was no minimum length of follow-up required to include studies. We included SRs of RCTs and RCTs where harms of an included intervention were studied applying the same study design criteria for inclusion. In addition, we use a regular surveillance protocol to capture harms alerts from organisations such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which are added to the reviews as required. To aid readability of the numerical data in our reviews, we round many percentages to the nearest whole number. Readers should be aware of this when relating percentages to summary statistics such as relative risks (RRs) and odds ratios (ORs). We have performed a GRADE evaluation of the quality of evidence for interventions included in this review ( see table). The categorisation of the quality of the evidence (high, moderate, low, or very low) reflects the quality of evidence available for our chosen outcomes in our defined populations of interest. These categorisations are not necessarily a reflection of the overall methodological quality of any individual study, because the Clinical Evidence population and outcome of choice may represent only a small subset of the total outcomes reported, and population included, in any individual trial. For further details of how we perform the GRADE evaluation and the scoring system we use, please see our website (www.clinicalevidence.com).

References

1. Poole-Wilson PA. History, definition, and classification of heart failure. In: Poole-Wilson PA, Colucci WS, Massie BM, et al, eds. Heart failure. Scientific principles and clinical practice. Churchill Livingston, 1997:269–277. 1. Paulus WJ, Tschope C, Sanderson JE, et al. How to diagnose diastolic heart failure: a consensus statement on the diagnosis of heart failure with normal left ventricular ejection fraction by the Heart Failure and Echocardiography Associations of the European Society of Cardiology. Eur Heart J 2007;28:2539−2550. [PubMed] 1. de Giuli F, Khaw KT, Cowie MR, et al. Incidence and outcome of persons with a clinical diagnosis of heart failure in a general practice population of 696,884 in the United Kingdom. Eur J Heart Failure 2005;7:295−302. [PubMed] 1. Curtis LH, Whellan DJ, Hammill BG, et al. Incidence and prevalence of heart failure in elderly persons, 1994-2003. Arch Intern Med 2008;168:418−424. [PubMed] 1. Ezekowitz JA, Kaul P, Bakal JA, et al. Declining in-hospital mortality and increasing heart failure incidence in elderly patients with first myocardial infarction. J Am Coll Cardiol 2009;53:13−20. [PubMed] 1. McKelvie RS, Benedict CR, Yusuf S. Prevention of congestive heart failure and management of asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction. BMJ1999;318:1400–1402. [PubMed] 1. Vasan RS, Benjamin EJ, Levy D. Congestive heart failure with normal left ventricular systolic function. Arch Intern Med 1996;156:146–157. [PubMed] 1. Davie AP, Francis CM, Caruana L, et al. The prevalence of left ventricular diastolic filling abnormalities in patients with suspected heart failure. Eur Heart J 1997;18:981–984. [PubMed] 1. Cowie MR, Mosterd A, Wood DA, et al. The epidemiology of heart failure. Eur Heart J 1997;18:208–225. [PubMed] 1. Yusuf S, Pepine CJ, Garces C, et al. Effect of enalapril on myocardial infarction and unstable angina in patients with low ejection fractions. Lancet1992;340:1173–1178. [PubMed] 1. Parashar S, Katz R, Smith NL, et al. Race, gender, and mortality in adults > or =65 years of age with incident heart failure (from the Cardiovascular Health Study). Am J Cardiol 2009;103:1120−1127. [PubMed] 1. McKelvie RS, Benedict CR, Yusuf S. Prevention of congestive heart failure and treatment of asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction. In: Yusuf S, Cairns JA, CammAJ, et al, eds. Evidenced based cardiology. BMJ, 2003:643–658. 1. Bittner V, Weiner DH, Yusuf S, et al, for the SOLVD Investigators. Prediction of mortality and morbidity with a 6-minute walk test in patients with left ventricular dysfunction. JAMA 1993;270:1702–1707. [PubMed] 1. Rogers WJ, Johnstone DE, Yusuf S, et al, for the SOLVD Investigators. Quality of life among 5025 patients with left ventricular dysfunction randomized between placebo and enalapril. The studies of left ventricular dysfunction. J Am Coll Cardiol 1994;23:393–400. [PubMed]

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Heart Failure

...Heart Failure Western Governors University Pathopharmacological Foundations for Advanced Nursing Practice Heart Failure It is estimated that about five million people in the United States are living with heart failure with an overwhelming number of 550,000 newly diagnosed cases each year, costing the nation roughly $32 billion dollars per year (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016). Heart failure is a complex, pathophysiological condition in which the ventricles of the heart is weakened and unable to pump effectively to meet the body’s needs for nutrients or has lost adequate filling capacity. Clinical presentations of heart failure depends on which ventricles have failed to pump blood adequately; left ventricular failure, also known as congestive heart failure (CHF) is more common than right ventricular failure (McCance & Huether, 2014). The most common symptoms of heart failure are shortness of breath, fatigue, and peripheral edema. HF is not a disease, but rather a manifestation of a diseased heart. Large number of disorders can lead to heart failure, and with the aging population and many surviving primary cardiac events, it is no surprise that the most common reason for hospitalization in patients older than 65 years old is heart failure (McClintock, Mose, & Smith, 2014). Heart failure has become a major public health problem because it is the only cardiac condition that continues to increase in prevalence (McClintock, Mose, & Smith, 2014)...

Words: 16787 - Pages: 68

Free Essay

Heart Failure

...Nurse Driven Education for A Patient Diagnosed With Chronic Systolic Heart Failure Refusing Diagnostic and Interventional Procedures Heather Horsley Wilkes University School of Nursing Abstract Heart failure (HF) is a chronic progressive disease, arising from structural or functional disorders of the heart, in which incidence increases with age. This review attempts to describe the types and causes of HF while focusing on variable aspects of patient education that have a positive effect on patient outcome and quality of life. Specifically, the potential benefits of this education for a 55 year old male patient diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiogram with chronic systolic heart failure, who has refused physician deemed necessary diagnostic testing and treatment. Keywords: heart failure, nurse driven education, heart failure, self-care Nurse Driven Education for Patient Diagnosed With Chronic Systolic Heart Failure Refusing Diagnostic and Interventional Procedures Heart failure (HF) is a major health care concern affecting over 5.7 million people in the United States. It is responsible for 1 in 9 deaths and costs the nation over 32 billion in health care expenses each year (Center for Disease Control, 2013). HF is the most common reason for hospitalization of people older than age 65 (Hinkle and Cheever, 2014). According to Hinkle and Cheever, HF is a “clinical syndrome resulting from structural or functional cardiac disorders that impair the ability of the ventricles...

Words: 2128 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Heart Failure

...Heart Failure Christy Harding Western Governors University C155- Pathopharmacological Foundations for Advance Nursing Practice Heart failure affects nearly 6 million Americans. It is the leading cause of hospitalization in people older than 65. Roughly 550,000 people are diagnosed with heart failure each year (Emory Healthcare, 2014). Heart failure is a pathologic state where the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the demand of the body’s metabolic needs or when the ventricle’s ability to fill is impaired. It is not a disease, but rather a complex clinical syndrome. The symptoms of heart failure come from pulmonary vascular congestion and inadequate perfusion of the systemic circulation. Individuals experience orthopnea, fatigue, dyspnea, cough with frothy sputum, peripheral edema, and decreased urinary output. Heart failure is caused by many conditions that damage the heart’s muscle. Any form of heart disease can lead to heart failure. A1. Pathophysiology Heart failure arises as a consequence of an abnormality in cardiac structure, conduction, rhythm, or function (Figueroa & Peters, 2006). Heart failure always begins with an index event. This event could be silent, as with the expression of a genetic mutation, or obvious, such as a myocardial infarction (Francis & Tang, 2003). Heart failure can be categorized into systolic ventricular dysfunction also known as systolic heart failure or diastolic ventricular dysfunction also known as diastolic heart failure...

Words: 6854 - Pages: 28

Premium Essay

Heart Failure

...case study on a current patient with heart failure being nursed in a community setting. Due to confidentiality and patient privacy, the patient discussed will be referred to as John¹. John is an 82 year old gentleman who lives alone in sheltered accommodation. John’s son and daughter live close and take it in turns to visit daily. John is an ex-smoker who gave up 20 years ago, has long standing hypertension and is overweight having a BMI of 30 kg/m. John was diagnosed with heart failure a year ago after being hospitalised three times in the space of four months. Stewart (2004) feels that a diagnoses of heart failure is problematic in older patients as their symptoms can often mimic other diseases. According to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence Guidelines (NICE) 2003, hospitalisation accounts² for 70% of the £716 million pounds spent on heart failure annually. In this assignment the physiology of the heart will be discussed and how heart failure affects its performance. John’s symptoms, medication and how his condition was diagnosed will be discussed³. John’s future care and how it will be managed along with who will be involved in his care4. NICE (2003) defines heart failure as a “complex syndrome” that results from any structural or functional cardiac disorder that impairs the ability of the heart to function as a pump to support a “physiological circulation”. Tendera5 (2005) states that heart failure is common in older adults and occurs...

Words: 2206 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Family Caregiver Heart Failure

...Introduction Heart failure is a difficult disease to manage; and every patient’s family experiences the disease uniquely. Caring for a sick family member is never an easy task. For years, families have relied on hospitals to care for sick loved ones; however some families need to care for their loved more than what just a hospital can facilitate. In the article “Family Caregivers’ Experiences of Caring for Patients with Heart Failure” by (Etemadifar et al., 2015, p.153-160) the level of evidence in this research article is a level IV. This type of level includes consensus panels and opinion of respected authorities. Research Problem and Hypothesis The research problem is the poor heath condition of the caregivers and patients with heart...

Words: 1270 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Congestive Heart Failure

...Congestive Heart Failure Armi Gonzales Western Governors University Congestive Heart Failure A. Investigated Disease Process Congestive Heart Failure is a condition in which the heart is unable to pump a sufficient amount of blood for the body to function. If the heart’s ability to pump blood decreases, blood and fluids may start to pool into the lungs and accumulate in the legs, ankles, and feet causing an edema, shortness of breath, and fatigue. (Heart Failure, 2015, para. 2) The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology defines heart failure as “a complex clinical syndrome that can result from any structural or functional cardiac disorder that impairs the ability of the ventricles to fill with or eject blood” (King, Kingery, & Casey, 2012, p. 1). Heart failure can be seen as a widespread disease, affecting around five million Americans. (Titler et al. n.d.) It is a chronic condition that is disabling and costly and common to our aging population. With the advancement in therapy and early diagnosis, survival increases from previously fatal acute cardiac events to patients feeling better and living longer. Millions of Americans living with heart failure are 65 years of age or older. (Roger et al, 2004) A1. Pathophysiology The Circulatory system focuses on the heart, a muscular organ that pumps blood through a complex network of blood vessels throughout the body. Blood that is pumped from the heart carries oxygen and nutrients that fuel...

Words: 6554 - Pages: 27

Premium Essay

How Education Affects Congestive Heart Failure

...head: EDUCATION AND CONGESTIV HEART FAILURE How does patient education affect compliance with Congestive Heart Failure? How does patient education affect compliance with Congestive Heart Failure? How does education affect compliance with congestive heart failure? I have chosen this topic because congestive heart failure is a disease process that continues to grow throughout our communities. These patients tend to be readmitted into the hospital frequently due to noncompliance. Problem Identification Education of congestive heart failure is one of society’s largest challenges. The need to focus on compliance of treatment plan, self management, and patient education of this disease process is essential for favorable outcomes. The articles chosen for the information retrieval paper were located on line at the University of Texas at Arlington library in the CINHL database. These articles were written between the years of 2006 and 2009. All three articles were peer reviewed. While searching the data base for articles, information regarding education, compliance, and outcomes was a key focus. The articles were chosen for their content related to the education process of the patient with congestive heart failure and how compliance would affect outcomes. The knowledge of congestive heart failure of the medical professional was also explored. Summary of Articles First article Congestive heart failure is a debilitating and chronic...

Words: 2065 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure

...Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure Nicole Martin North Island College Congestive Heart Failure Left heat failure, also known as congestive heart failure (CHF), is an imbalance in pump function in which the heart is failing and unable to do its work pumping enough blood to meet the needs of the body’s other organs. CHF is commonly thought of as a disease but in fact is a syndrome. A syndrome as defined by Mosby’s Dictionary, as “a complex of signs and symptoms resulting from a common cause or appearing in combination, to present a clinical picture of a disease or inherited abnormality” (Mosby, 2009). Heart failure usually develops slowly, often over years, as the heart gradually loses its pumping ability and works less efficiently. CHF affects individuals in different ways and to different degrees. It is usually a chronic disease and gradually becomes worse over time. Many people are not even aware of their condition until symptoms appear years after the heart began its decline. There are many causes, risk factors, and signs & symptoms that help determine if someone is at risk of developing CHF or already living with CHF. Nearly 500,000 Canadians are currently living with the condition, with 50,000 new cases diagnosed each year. With such high numbers of people diagnosed with CHF, I believe as a future nurse it will be beneficial to have a greater understanding as to how CHF develops, how it is treated, and how it is management. Etiology The etiology...

Words: 1578 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Case Study of Congestive Heart Failure

...Ellen Diane Windham 11/8/15 Case Study: CHF Helen Montgomery * An 83-year-old female presents to ambulance crew after an episode of sudden weakness.  A GP is on scene and has assessed the patient, deciding on hospital admission by ambulance as a matter of urgency. History Patient became very weak and was put to bed by NOK. Her breathing became very laboured and the NOK called for the local GP out-of-hours service to attend. The doctor was on scene within 15 minutes, and upon assessing the patient requested an ambulance transfer to the ED. Initial Clinical Findings * Airway – clear & patent * C Spine – not indicated (MOI/NOI: episode of weakness) * Breathing – tachypnoeic * Circulation – Pulse present, irregular, tachycardic; skin colour normal, cap refill normal * Disability – No LOC before ambulance arrival, patient responding to verbal stimuli Clinical Impression * ? Exacerbation of CHF * ? CVA * ? Post-seizure AMPLE History * A – Allergic to penicillin * M – Currently taking Warfarin, Furosemide * P – History of CVA x 1 year, CHF * L – Last oral intake 7pm the evening previous * E – Son stated patient became very weak before going to bed Observations * Pulse rate 110bpm * Pulse rhythm Irregular * ECG rate 116 * ECG rhythm A Fib * Resp rate 24 per...

Words: 378 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Heart Failure Research Paper

...Heart failure (HF) is one of the most common manifestations of heart disease. In the US, the lifetime risk of developing HF at age 40 is one in five for both men and women, and continues at this level through the age of 80, despite the reduction in life expectancy.{Roger, 2012 #1789} Chronic HF in particular has increased in prevalence, even as control of other common cardiovascular syndromes, such as myocardial infarction (MI), has improved in recent years.{McCullough, 2002 #1851;Roger, 2012 #1789} HF is a disease of the elderly, affecting 10% of men and 8% of women above the age of 60 years, and its prevalence rises with age.{Roger, 2012 #1789} Given the expected aging of the population, if the incidence of new HF cases continues to increase...

Words: 403 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Preventing Heart Failure Readmissions

...Preventing Heart Failure Readmissions Henry D. Santos Purdue University Calumet I. Introduction High morbidity, mortality, and healthcare spending have been connected with heart failure management. As per Gheorghiade et al., every year, there are almost a million cases of hospitalization for heart failure, responsible for 6.5 million hospital days, and estimated expenditures of $37.2 billion here in the United States alone (2013). The incident of heart failure readmissions has increased over the last decades, distinctly related to the aging population and surpassed recovery after a myocardial infarction. Based on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) 2005 data, heart failure is the most frequent diagnosis among Medicare beneficiaries and the third highest reimbursement for hospitals (AHRQ, 2013). In 2009, CMS started the public reporting of readmission rates after being discharge for heart failure, and, the year after, the Patient Protection and Affordable Act inaugurated financial penalties for healthcare establishments with most rates of readmission within the 30 days after discharge. The elevated concern relating the want to decrease readmissions has been the biggest focused of national researchers and hospitals with the efforts of identifying and predicting which patients with heart failure are likely to be readmitted. Formulated designs and preventive strategies have been established, in order to avoid unnecessary readmissions. Heart failures risk factors...

Words: 1361 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Heart Failure Research Paper

...Introduction Heart failure is a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood through the body. When this happens, parts of the body do not get the blood and oxygen needed for them to function properly. This can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and confusion. There is no cure for heart failure. However, following your health care provider's instructions about a healthy lifestyle and being treated with medicines can help you stay active and live longer. The types of medicine you are prescribed will depend on your symptoms and what is causing the heart failure. In some cases, you may need to take more than one medicine. It is important to talk to your health care provider about all the medicines you are taking, how...

Words: 949 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Heart Failure Research Paper

...Heart failure occurs when cardiac output is insufficient to effectively perfuse the tissues, despite normal filling of the heart. Usually causes include hypertension, cardiomyopathy, and coronary heart disease. In heart failure, the increase in the resistance against which the heart pumps (afterload) further depresses cardiac output. A reduced renal blood flow induces renin secretion and increased plasma aldosterone and angiotensin concentrations. Water and sodium retention increases blood volume causing central venous pressure to increase. These changes overall first help to maintain cardiac output however in the long term they eventually cause morbidity and mortality (BOOK). Treatment of heart failure begins with angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor and as severity increases a diuretic is added which supports the excretion of sodium and water (book). In very severe heart failure, the addition of β-blocker further decreases mortality in patients on ACE inhibitors and diuretics. Valsartan/ Sacubitril is a combination drug approved for use in heart failure. It has a brand name of Entresto and is also previously known as LCZ696....

Words: 500 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Heart Manufacture Or Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

...Heart failure or Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is a condition in which the heart can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. Heart failure does not mean that your heart has stopped or is about to stop working. It means that your heart is not able to pump blood the way it should. It can affect one or both sides of the heart ("Congestive Heart Failure | Heart Failure | CHF | MedlinePlus," 2017). Heart failure is a collection of signs and symptoms reflecting a physiologic change in the hearts ability to keep up with demand. Heart failure is considered a global pandemic and is a complex disease that oftentimes is progressive. Heart failure is often associated with underlying coronary atherosclerosis, and its associated risks, including...

Words: 675 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Heart Failure Research Paper

...Introduction Heart failure is a condition in which the heart does not fill or pump enough blood and oxygen to support your body and its functions. Heart failure is a long-term (chronic) condition. Living with heart failure can be challenging. However, following your health care provider's instructions about a healthy lifestyle may help improve your symptoms. This includes choosing the right exercise plan. Doing daily physical activity is important after a diagnosis of heart failure. You may have some activity restrictions, so talk to your health care provider before doing any exercises. What are the benefits of exercise? Exercise may: Make your heart muscles stronger. Lower your blood pressure. Lower your cholesterol. Help you lose weight....

Words: 556 - Pages: 3