HEART FAILURE: PATHOPHYSIOLOGY and Diagnosis Davood Shafie , MD Fellowship in Heart Failure and Transplantation Assistant Professor of Cardiology Chamran Hospital,Isfahan University of Medical Sciences

DEFINITION Heart failure is a clinical syndrome that results when abnormalities in the structure and/or function of the myocardium impair cardiac output or decrease filling of the ventricles.

EPIDEMIOLOGY The lifetime risk of heart failure is at least 20% for Americans and 25% for Europeans. Heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalization for patients older than 65 years. Once a patient is hospitalized for heart failure, the 30-day risk of rehospitalization is 25%, with a 10% risk of 30-day postdischarge mortality. Although survival has improved, the absolute mortality rates for heart failure remain approximately 50% within 5 years of diagnosis.

Classification HFrEF HFpEF (40-50%)

Characteristic features 1-dyspnea (shortness of breath) 2- fatigue 3- fluid retention 4- impaired exercise performance 5- edema