Heart failure (HF) is the pathophysiologic state in which the heart, via an abnormality of cardiac function (detectable or not), fails to pump blood at a rate commensurate with the requirements of the metabolizing tissues or is able to do so only with an elevated diastolic filling pressure. HF is a worldwide problem. Risk factors vary substantially, though hypertension is universally associated with HF (particularly Latin America, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, and sub-Saharan Africa). One-year mortality rates vary around the globe—up to 37.5% in the United States, 23.6% in Europe, 11.6% in Japan, 20.7% in Australia, and 24.5% in South America.
The most common cause of heart failure in industrialized countries is ischemic cardiomyopathy, with other causes, including Chagas disease and valvular cardiomyopathy, assuming a more important role in developing countries. However, in developing nations that have become more urbanized and more affluent, eating a more processed diet and leading a more sedentary lifestyle have resulted in an increased rate of heart failure, along with increased rates of diabetes and hypertension. According to global estimates, heart failure affects more than 26 million people, and prevalence is expected to increase as the aging population lives longer.
How much do you know about important aspects of presentation, diagnosis, and treatment? Test yourself with this quick quiz.
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Cite this: Yasmine S. Ali. Fast Five Quiz: Test Your Knowledge on Key Aspects of Heart Failure - Medscape - Feb 07, 2020.
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