Now that we have a better understanding of the mechanisms and outcomes of heart failure (HF), effective new treatments – from drugs to surgery to devices – are revolutionizing both outcome and wellbeing in patients with the condition. Nevertheless, it remains a serious public health problem, as the number of patients requiring treatment continues to increase along with the associated costs to healthcare systems and society.
This book is an ideal introduction to HF for primary care providers, cardiac nurses, junior hospital doctors, medical students and cardiology trainees looking for a clear approach to patient management in a highly readable form. We start with new definitions of HF (different types of HF require different treatments), then provide the latest thinking on mechanisms and clinical stages, underlying causes and the assessment and management of comorbidities. This is followed by simple diagnostic criteria and a comprehensive overview of investigations.
The management chapters focus on the importance of self-care education and healthy lifestyle choices, together with the latest recommendations for pharmacological treatment, device therapy and cardiac surgery. As well as the first-line angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), beta-blockers and diuretics that have been central to HF therapy for more than 20 years, the advent of a first-in-class angiotensin-receptor/neprilysin inhibitor is an indication of the ongoing innovation in this rapidly moving field, as the final chapter on developments also shows.
We have distilled a lot of complex information, and used diagrams, algorithms and pull-out tables to make it as practical and digestible as possible, with key points and references for further reading at the end of each chapter. Furthermore, you can quickly test your knowledge after reading this book by taking our FastTest at fastfacts.com.
We hope that this book will help you to make better health decisions for all your patients with HF.
Acknowledgments. The authors wish to specifically thank Professor Thomas Marwick for his considerable and erudite contribution to the first edition. The authors also wish to thank the following contributors from the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia: Drs RLC Adams and RJ Bird, for the section on anemia in Chapter 4 – Comorbidities; Mrs R Peters, nurse practitioner, for her contribution to Chapter 6 – General management and lifestyle considerations; and Mrs T Chang, pharmacist, for her contribution to Chapter 7 – Pharmacological treatment.