title: [Clinical scores in chronic heart failure: does an ideal score exist?].
abstract: Numerous prognostic markers have shown to be predictive of patient outcome in heart failure (HF). The recent guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic HF have identified as many as 57 individual markers in patients with HF, including demographic data, etiology, comorbidities, clinical, radiological, hemodynamic, echocardiographic and biochemical parameters. If more accurate risk stratification is required, several scoring systems have been proposed. This article reviews scoring systems for HF prognostication. Although most of the models include readily available clinical information, usually NYHA functional class, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and comorbidities, quite a few of them comprise Doppler echocardiographic variables, other than LVEF, and circulating levels of natriuretic peptides. In order to achieve a better prediction of the outcome, an ideal score should be based on a comprehensive Doppler echocardiographic examination, the assessment of circulating biomarkers, and a more objective evaluation of exercise tolerance.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fontanive
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miccoli
authors.forename: Maria Chiara
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Scali
authors.forename: Anca
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Simioniuc
authors.forename: Frank L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Dini
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marzilli
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D045265:Natriuretic Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011379:Prognosis; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D045265:Natriuretic Peptides