Heart failure (HF) is defined by the European Society of Cardiology as a clinical syndrome characterised by symptoms such as breathlessness, ankle swelling and fatigue that may be accompanied by signs such as elevated jugular venous pressure, pulmonary crackles and peripheral oedema. HF is caused by a structural and/or functional cardiac abnormality, and results in a reduced cardiac output and/or elevated intracardiac pressures at rest or during stress.¹

HF can be differentiated into three types based on measurement of left ventricular ejection fraction: HF with preserved ejection fraction; HF with mid-range ejection fraction; and HF with reduced ejection fraction.¹

HF can also be classified as chronic HF or acute HF. Patients with chronic HF are those that have had HF for some time. If signs and symptoms of HF remain unchanged for at least 1 month, the condition is described at stable HF. However, chronic stable HF can deteriorate gradually. In contrast, acute HF is defined as the rapid onset of or change in signs and symptoms of HF. Immediate therapy is required for acute HF, which is a life-threatening condition. Urgent hospitalisation is a usual outcome with acute HF.¹ 

 

 

^Epidemiology 

There are around 920,000 people in the UK living with heart failure. Both the incidence and prevalence of heart failure increase with age, with the average age at diagnosis of 77 years.²

Types of HF

The main terminology used to describe HF is based on measurement of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).¹ Differentiating patients this way is important due to different underlying aetiologies, demographics, co-morbidities and response to therapies.¹

 

 

AF, atrial fibrillation; HFrEF, heart failure with reduced ejection fraction; JVP; jugular venous pressure.

References

1. Ponikowski P et al. Eur Heart J 2016; 37:2129–2200.         
2. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). 2018. Chronic heart failure in adults: diagnosis and management. NICE guideline [NG106].