2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Classification
HFrEF
HFpEF (40-50%)

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