Chronic heart failure: a review for the primary care physician.
Heart failure is a complex clinical syndrome. The pharmacological therapy for chronic heart failure has been changing in the past decade with acquired knowledge of the pathophysiology of this medical condition. Primary care physicians currently treat a significant number of patients. This article summarizes core topics of heart failure including epidemiological information, etiology, pathophysiology, clinical features and diagnostic tools. Also, we review some of the most relevant research studies that have led to the current recommendations for the pharmacological therapeutic strategies in the management of chronic heart failure. We make reference to the latest guidelines in the management of chronic heart failure submitted by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association (ACC/AHA). New technological advances, such as the biventricular-pacing devices, are an important adjuvant to the established pharmacological therapies for chronic heart failure.
Cardiology Section, Department of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
José A
JA
Rodríguez-Escudero
Carlos
C
Zayas-Torres
Hector
H
Banchs-Pieretti
D002908:Chronic Disease; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D010821:Physicians, Family