Heart Failure Flashcards
Why is the term “heart failure” preferred over “congestive heart failure”?
A. Because all patients with heart failure exhibit volume overload
B. Because some patients present without signs or symptoms of volume overload
C. Because congestive heart failure only applies to acute cases
D. Because congestive heart failure is only associated with left ventricular failure
B
ccording to pathophysiologic definitions, heart failure is characterized by:
A. Low blood pressure and elevated intracardiac pressures
B. Elevated cardiac filling pressure and/or inadequate peripheral oxygen delivery due to cardiac dysfunction
C. Reduced ejection fraction without symptom manifestations
D. Structural abnormalities without functional impairments
B
____ describes patients with longstanding (e.g., months to years) symptoms and/or signs of HF typically treated with medical and device therapy
Chronic Heart Failure
______, previously termed acute decompensated HF, refers to the rapid onset or worsening of symptoms of HF.
Acute Heart Failure
____ in HF describes a clinical scenario in which a patient presents with rapidly worsening signs and symptoms of pulmonary congestion, typically due to severe elevation of left heart filling pressure.
Acute Pulmonary Edema
In the classification of heart failure (HF), an ejection fraction (EF) of ≤40% is referred to as:
A. HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)
B. Systolic heart failure
C. HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF)
D. Diastolic heart failure
C
Which of the following ejection fractions (EF) is generally associated with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)?
A. ≤30%
B. ≤40%
C. 45%
D. ≥50%
D
In general, prognosis of patients with ____ is superior to that of patients with either HFrEF or HFpEF.
HFrecEF
____ refers to patients with heart failure and an ejection fraction (EF) between 40% and 50%.
HFmrEF
In developed countries, ____ is responsible for approximately two-thirds of the cases of HF, with ____ as a principal contributor in up to 75% and ___ in 10–40%
Coronary artery disease
HTN
diabetes mellitus
In general, adults with CHD who develop HF can be divided into one of three pathophysiologic groups:
uncorrected defects with late presentation due to missed diagnosis
nonintervention, or lack of access to care
repaired or palliated defects with late valvular and/or ventricular failure; or failing single-ventricle physiology.
In Africa and Asia, ____ remains a major cause of HF, especially in the young.
rheumatic heart disease
Most forms of familial cardiomyopathy are inherited in an ____ fashion
autosomal dominant
Ventricular remodeling in heart failure can be categorized into which of the following two patterns?
A. Diastolic hypertrophy and systolic hypertrophy
B. Concentric hypertrophy and eccentric hypertrophy
C. Left and right ventricular hypertrophy
D. Primary hypertrophy and secondary hypertrophy
B
Which of the following types of ventricular remodeling is typically seen in conditions with pressure overload, such as hypertension and aortic stenosis?
A. Eccentric hypertrophy
B. Right ventricular hypertrophy
C. Concentric hypertrophy
D. Ventricular dilation
C
Eccentric hypertrophy is primarily associated with which of the following conditions?
A. Aortic regurgitation and mitral regurgitation
B. Pulmonary embolism and systemic hypertension
C. Myocardial infarction and ventricular fibrillation
D. Hypertension and coronary artery disease
A
At the cellular level, ventricular remodeling in heart failure is often accompanied by which of the following changes?
A. Myocyte atrophy and decreased ventricular mass
B. Myocyte hypertrophy and interstitial fibrosis
C. Increased ejection fraction and reduced wall stress
D. Reduced calcium levels with improved cytoskeletal function
B
Which of the following is a molecular-level change observed during ventricular remodeling?
A. Improved cytosolic calcium uptake
B. Increased mitochondrial activity
C. Reexpression of fetal genes
D. Enhanced neurohormonal adaptation
C
The type of cellular death observed in myocytes that are unable to adapt to remodeling stimuli is:
A. Apoptosis or programmed cell death
B. Necrosis exclusively
C. Autophagy
D. Ischemic preconditioning
A
Which of the following hormones is released primarily from the ventricles in response to increased pressure or stretch?
A. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)
B. Bradykinin
C. B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)
D. Adrenomedullin
B
The beneficial actions of natriuretic peptides, such as ANP and BNP, include all of the following EXCEPT:
A. Systemic and pulmonary vasodilation
B. Increased sodium and water excretion
C. Stimulation of renin and aldosterone release
D. Modulation of baroreceptors
C
Which of the following enzymes inactivates both bradykinin and natriuretic peptides, leading to a rationale for the use of angiotensin receptor–neprilysin inhibitors in heart failure?
A. Guanylate cyclase
B. Neprilysin
C. Aldosterone synthase
D. Renin
B
The mechanism of action of natriuretic peptides in heart failure involves stimulation of:
A. Protein kinase A
B. Cyclooxygenase
C. Guanylate cyclase
D. Angiotensin-converting enzyme
C
In heart failure, the upregulation of which of the following hormones provides counterregulatory effects against RAAS and SNS activation?
A. Endothelin
B. Nitric oxide
C. Cortisol
D. Epinephrine
B
Endothelin is primarily known for which of the following effects in the context of heart failure?
A. Potent vasodilation and anti-inflammatory properties
B. Vasoconstriction and promotion of myocyte hypertrophy
C. Direct renal protective effects
D. Inhibition of pulmonary artery pressure
B
Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) is a protein located on the ____ of the kidney that is responsible for reabsorption of up to 90% of filtered glucose.
proximal tubule
SGLT-2 activity in HF contributes to:
Sodium and water retention
Endothelial dysfunction
Abnormal myocardial metabolism
Impaired calcium handling
What is the primary function of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) in the kidney?
A. Reabsorption of water
B. Filtration of electrolytes
C. Reabsorption of up to 90% of filtered glucose
D. Excretion of metabolic waste products
C
In patients with heart failure, activity of SGLT-2 contributes to which of the following?
A. Enhanced myocardial oxygen delivery
B. Sodium and water retention
C. Decreased endothelial dysfunction
D. Improved calcium handling
B
Which of the following has been shown in large clinical trials regarding the use of SGLT-2 inhibitors in heart failure patients?
A. They are only safe in patients without diabetes mellitus.
B. They show beneficial effects on morbidity and mortality in HF patients, regardless of diabetes status.
C. They are primarily used for proarrhythmic effects.
D. They solely improve glycemic control with no cardiovascular benefits.
B
Which of the following potential mechanisms might explain the beneficial effects of SGLT-2 inhibitors in heart failure?
A. Decreased cardiac and vascular remodeling
B. Increased renal dysfunction
C. Stimulation of RAAS activity
D. Increased myocardial fibrosis
A
In up to one-third of patients with heart failure, prolongation of the QRS interval and electrical dyssynchrony can occur. Which form of electrical dyssynchrony is commonly associated with abnormal ventricular contraction?
A. Right bundle branch block (RBBB)
B. Left bundle branch block (LBBB)
C. AV node block
D. First-degree heart block
B
Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is indicated to reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with:
A. Symptomatic HFrEF with LBBB on guideline-directed medical therapy
B. Asymptomatic HFpEF without conduction abnormalities
C. Patients with frequent premature ventricular complexes but normal ejection fraction
D. Pulmonary arterial hypertension without heart failure
A
Which of the following mechanisms contributes to secondary mitral regurgitation in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF)?
A. Hyperdynamic left ventricular function
B. Increased dimension of the mitral annulus and inability to contract during systole
C. Thickening of the mitral leaflets
D. Complete atrioventricular block
B
What is a potential consequence of atrial fibrillation with inadequate rate control in patients with heart failure?
A. Reduced systemic blood pressure only
B. Improved ventricular contractility
C. Increased wall stress, neurohormonal activation, and inflammation
D. Enhanced left ventricular filling
C
Cardiorenal syndrome in heart failure (HF) is traditionally understood as resulting from:
A. Increased cardiac output leading to renal hyperperfusion
B. Impaired forward flow causing reduced renal arterial perfusion and neurohormonal activation
C. Direct myocardial toxicity affecting kidney filtration
D. A decrease in venous return leading to reduced renal functio
B
Which of the following has been shown to correlate with an improvement in renal function in heart failure?
A. Increase in preload
B. Relief of systemic venous congestion
C. Increase in afterload
D. Reduction of cardiac contractility
B
The splanchnic veins play a crucial role in heart failure by:
A. Triggering systemic vasodilation to reduce preload
B. Acting as a blood reservoir and regulating cardiac preload during volume status changes
C. Stimulating the release of bradykinin to improve renal blood flow
D. Directly influencing heart rate through autonomic feedback
B
Which of the following mechanisms can induce renal vasoconstriction in heart failure due to splanchnic congestion?
A. Activation of the splenorenal and hepatorenal reflexes
B. Inhibition of the sympathetic nervous system
C. Increase in cardiac output and forward flow
D. Direct stimulation of myocardial contractility
A
What is the combined therapeutic effect of diuretic therapy or mechanical means such as ultrafiltration in the context of heart failure?
A. Only improves cardiac output without affecting abdominal pressure
B. Reduces volume and decreases intraabdominal pressure, improving renal function
C. Enhances left ventricular contractility while increasing abdominal congestion
D. Stimulates neurohormonal activation to promote sodium retention
B
Which of the following best describes the hemodynamic profile of a high-output state in heart failure?
A. High cardiac output with elevated systemic vascular resistance (SVR)
B. Low cardiac output with normal SVR
C. High cardiac output with low SVR
D. Low cardiac output with low SVR
C
In patients with chronic anemia, what physiological changes contribute to a high-output state with low systemic vascular resistance?
A. Increased blood viscosity and enhanced sympathetic tone
B. Elevated oxygen-carrying capacity and decreased metabolic rate
C. Vasodilatory metabolites and arteriolar vasodilation due to reduced oxygen-carrying capacity, along with decreased blood viscosity
D. Increased hemoglobin synthesis and blood vessel constriction
C
Which underlying condition makes patients with end-stage renal disease particularly susceptible to high-output heart failure?
A. Increased afterload due to hypertension
B. Chronic anemia combined with increased flow through an arteriovenous fistula
C. Decreased sympathetic nervous system activation
D. Hypervolemia due to reduced glomerular filtration
B
Which of the following is the most common cause of high-output heart failure in contemporary clinical practice?
A. Lung disease
B. Arteriovenous shunts
C. Obesity
D. Myeloproliferative disorders
C
What is the pathophysiological mechanism behind orthopnea in heart failure?
A. Increased afterload leading to peripheral resistance
B. Redistribution of fluid from the abdomen and lower body into the chest when lying down
C. Increased systemic vascular resistance during sleep
D. Enhanced cardiac output in the upright position
B
Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND) differs from orthopnea in that it:
A. Is alleviated by lying flat
B. Occurs predictably after a patient lies down for 1–2 minutes
C. Requires longer for relief and typically awakens the patient from sleep with a sensation of suffocation
D. Is primarily associated with daytime fatigue
C
What is the term used to describe the condition involving massive body edema with possible pleural effusions and ascites in patients with advanced right heart failure?
A. Orthopnea
B. Anasarca
C. Cardiac asthma
D. Pulmonary edema
B
Nocturia in heart failure patients is most likely due to:
A. Increased renal perfusion when in a supine position
B. Decreased cardiac output during the night
C. High systemic vascular resistance during sleep
D. Acute volume depletion
A
In older patients with heart failure and cerebrovascular disease, which of the following symptoms may indicate reduced systemic perfusion?
A. Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
B. Confusion and mental dullness
C. Palpitations and anxiety
D. Syncope and vertigo
B
Cardiac cachexia (Table 257-6), defined partially as unintentional edema-free weight loss of ____ over 12 months, may be observed in patients with longstanding, severe HF as bitemporal or upper body muscle wasting.
> 5%