Heart Failure - Systolic Dysfunction [update 2019]

Description: Over the past decade, the understanding of HF has changed dramatically. The most common cause of HF remains an ischemic insult. This insult initiates a cascade of events mediated by neurohormonal influences that adversely affect the heart. Numerous pharmacologic and lifestyle interventions can improve mortality. The availability of so many treatments has resulted in confusion about how and in whom to initiate and titrate therapy, resulting in variation in the management of this condition and under use of medications that have been proven effective.

Health care systems have targeted HF as a medical condition needing better disease-based management because of its prevalence and its management costs. Treatment guidelines have evolved to improve the standardization of care using evidence-based approaches. This guideline-based, self-study activity provides practical guidance to clinicians about managing heart failure due to systolic dysfunction. A framework of symptom severity guides pharmacologic treatment of these patients.