title: Evaluation of patients with heart failure.
abstract: Heart failure is one of the most prevalent cardiovascular diseases in the United States, and is associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and costs. Prompt diagnosis may help decrease mortality, hospital stay, and costs related to treatment. A complete heart failure evaluation comprises a comprehensive history and physical examination, echocardiogram, and diagnostic tools that provide information regarding the etiology of heart failure, related complications, and prognosis in order to prescribe appropriate therapy, monitor response to therapy, and transition expeditiously to advanced therapies when needed. Emerging technologies and biomarkers may provide better risk stratification and more accurate determination of cause and progression.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical Center, Lillehei Heart Institute, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware Street Southeast, MMC 508, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Patarroyo-Aponte
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colvin-Adams
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D057791:Cardiac Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002407:Catheterization, Swan-Ganz; D002908:Chronic Disease; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000379:methods; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006334:Heart Function Tests; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods*; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Evaluation; Heart failure; Risk factors