TOPIC19: chronic heart failure (etiology, symptoms, diagnosis)

Question 1

what is CHF?

Answer 1

• HF developing over time allowing for adaptation and compensatory mechanisms within the cardiovascular system
• modern definition includes the positivity of the following:
  1. confirmed cardiac dysfunction
  2. neurohumoral activation confirmed
  3. response to HF treatment

Question 2

etiology of CHF

Answer 2

1) Ischemic heart disease/ CAD
2) Congenital
3) alcohol/drugs
4) amyloidosis (stiffens muscle due to deposition)
5) HTN
6) Valvular disease
7) arrythmias (persistent)
8) RHF: COPD, PE or pulm HTN

Question 3

pathomechanism of CHF

Answer 3

same as AHF

Question 4

Complications of CHF

Answer 4

• acute worsening of chronic HF causes the heart to be unable to adapt/compensate for changes–> AHF
• this can happen in any illness either related to the heart of those not, such as pneumonia
• pts with compensated HF have a high rate of readmission to the hospital with acute exacerbations