title: [Epidemiology and pathophysiology of heart failure].
abstract: The role of coronary artery disease in the epidemiology of congestive heart failure is important. In the pathophysiologic process of congestive heart failure, a number of adaptive mechanisms (hypertrophy, dilatation, neurohumoral stimulation) compensate for the decreased cardiac output by the failing heart. A new understanding of the pathophysiology of heart failure has lead to the identification of important cellular alterations. In the final stage of overcompensation these adaptive mechanisms are deleterious. Associated ventricular arrhythmias indicate a high incidence of sudden cardiac death. Recent considerations of clinical relevance are taken into account in tailoring treatment for patients with congestive heart failure.
authors.affiliation: Departement Innere Medizin, Universitätsspital Zürich.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Amann
mesh_terms: D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D002302:Cardiac Output; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D015870:Gene Expression; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology
vernacular_title: Epidemiologie und Pathophysiologie der Herzinsuffizienz.