Heart Failure Flashcards
What causes HF?
HF is most commonly caused Reduced ability of the heart to eject blood, known AD low-output heart failure
What’s heart failure (HF)?
HF is a syndrome where the heart is not able to supply sufficient blood flow (or cardiac output) to meet the metabolic needs of the body
Types of heart failure?
HF with Reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF)/Systolic dysfunction - impaired ability of LEFT ventricle to EJECT blood
HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)/ Diastolic dysfunction - impaired ability of LEFT ventricle to FILL with blood
What xterizes systolic dysfxn of HF?
Left ventricle ejection fraction < 40%
HFrEF
What xterizes diastolic dysfxn of HF?
Only mildly reduced (40-50%) or normal left ventricular ejection fraction
What sometimes xterizes low-output HF?
Both systolic and diastolic dysfunction
T/F? HF is one of the most important conditions to include lifestyle counseling and the requirements for strict medication adherence?
True
HF can be classified into 2 types based on underlying etiology. What are they?
Ischemic cardiomyopathy
Or
Non-ischemic cardiomyopathy
What does Ischemic cardiomyopathy result from?
From myocardial damage sustained during an acute myocardial infarction, resulting in loss of contractile function
What does Non-Ischemic cardiomyopathy encompass?
A variety of conditions that ultimately increase the workload of cardiomyocytes, accelerating cell death and lead to a thin-walled dilated left ventricle with reduced contractile function
What are the most common causes of HF in North America?
Ischemia heart dx (myocardial infarction)
And
HTN
List drugs that cause or worsen HF
Chemotherapeutic agents (Doxorubicin, (Adriamycin, Doxil))
Amphetamines and other sympathomimetics
Routine use of CCBs in systolic HF
Anti-arrhythmic drugs (lower risk with amiodarone and Dofetilide). Avoid class I drugs entirely
Avoid Itraconazole for non-life threatening inf such as Onychomycosis
Immunomodulators, including interferons, TNF inhibitors, rituximab etc
NSAIDs, including the selective COX-2 inhibitor Celecoxib (Celebrex)
Glucocorticoids can worsen HF
Triptan migraine drugs
Thiazolidinediones, esp, Rosiglitazone (Avandia) and Pioglitazone (Actos)
Excessive alcohol use
Heart valve dx can be cause by: fenfluramine (Pondimin), dexfenfluramine (Redux), ergot derivative including ergot (Ergostat), dihydroergotamine (Migranal), methysergide (Sansert) and others
What’s cardiac output? (CO)
Vol of blood (in L) pumped by the heat in 1 min
It’s a fxn of HR and stroke vol.
CO = HR x SV
What’s stroke vol?
Amt of blood ejected from the left ventricle during 1 cardiac cycle
What determines stroke volume?
SV is determined by vol of blood in ventricle (preload), the resistance to forward flow in arterial vessels (afterload), and how hard the ventricle squeezes during systole (contractility)
T4, SV is determine by preload, afterload and contractility
What’s preload?
Volume of blood in the ventricle
What’s afterload?
Resistance to forward flow in the arterial vessels
What’s contractility?
How hard the ventricle squeezes during systole
What’s cardiac index?
CO/BSA
HF is a progressive syndrome, what does that mean?
Regardless of the initial etiology of myocardial damage, over time left ventricular systolic fxn will continue to decline
T4 initial damage to heart => reduction in CO
One of the ways the heart tries to compensate during HF is by activating RAAS? Implication of this?
Results in vasoconstriction, which helps maintain BP and perfusion to vital organs
What other compensation by the heart increases HR and contractility? (T4 augmenting CO)
Sympathetic (adrenergic) activation
While the RAAS activation in HF is useful (maintains BP and adequate perfusion), what’s not so good abt it?
Na and water retention => edema
Excess fluid causes body to be congested and the classic sx of “congestive” HF is seen
Classic sx of “congestive” HF?
Dyspnea (SOB)
Fatigue
Peripheral edema
General s/sx of HF?
Dyspnea at rest or on exertion
Weakness/fatigue
Shortness of breath
Reduction in exercise capacity
LVH
Increased BNP (B-type Natriuretic Peptide): normal < 100 pg/ml
Increased NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro B-type Natriuretic Peptide) normal < 300 pg/ml
S/sx of left-sided HF?
SOB PE
S3 gallop
Orthoptera
Bibasilar rales
Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND) or nocturnal cough
EF < 40%
S/sx of right-sided HF?
A JEHH
Ascites
Jugular venous distention (JVD)
Edema
Hepatojugular reflux (HJR)
Hepatomegaly
What’re gen the results of sx in HF?
Either congestion behind the failing ventricle
Or
Hypoperfusion due to reduced cardiac output
What’s the use of the staging system of HF?
Help practitioners optimize mgt of pts in order to slow the development of sx in asymptomatic pts (stages A and B) or slow the progression of syndrome (stages C and D)
Whats another type of classification system used in HF?
New York Heart Association functional class (NYHA)
Important prognostic indicator for HF pts
What’s the equivalent of ACC/AHA Staging System A to NYHA functional class?
No corresponding category
What’s the equivalent of ACC/AHA Staging System B to NYHA functional class?
NYHA functional class I
What’s the equivalent of ACC/AHA Staging System C to NYHA functional class?
NYHA functional class I, II, III
What’s the equivalent of ACC/AHA Staging System D to NYHA functional class?
NYHA functional class IV
Characteristics of ACC/AHA Staging System A?
At high risk for dev HF, but w/o structural HD or sx of HF (ie, pts with HTN, CHD, DM, obesity, metabolic syndrome
Characteristics of ACC/AHA Staging System B?
Structural heart dx present but w/o s/sx of HF (ie, LVH, low EF, valvular dx, previous MI)
Which stages of ACC/AHA Staging System is included in clinical diagnosis of HF?
C and D
Characteristics of ACC/AHA Staging System C?
Structural HD + prior/ current sx of HF (ie, pts with known structural HD, SOB and fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance
Characteristics of ACC/AHA Staging System D?
Advanced structural HD + sx of HF at rest despite maximal medical therapy (Refractory HF requiring specialized interventions)
Characteristics of NYHA Functional Class I?
No limitations of physical activity
Ordinary physician activity doesn’t cause sx of HF
Characteristics of NYHA Functional Class II?
Slight limitation of physical activity
Comfortable at rest, but ordinary physical activity results in sx of HF
Characteristics of NYHA Functional Class III?
Marked limitation of physical activity
Comfortable at rest, but minimal exertion (bathing, dressing) causes sx of HF
Characteristics of NYHA Functional Class IV?
Unable to carry on any physical w/o sx of HF
OR
HF at rest
Non-pharmacologic therapy for HF?
Monitor and document body weight DAILY
Notify provider of HF sx worsens or when weight increases (3 lbs in 1 day or >= 5 lbs in 1week)
Sodium restriction is reasonable for pts with symptomatic HF @
< 1500 mg/d
Daily MVTE
Fluid restrictions (1.5-2 L/D), esp stage D pts
BMI < 30 preferred
Exercise 30 mins/day, 3-5 days a wk as tolerated
What’s the appropriate sodium restriction for HF pts?
< 1500 mg/d
What OTC med is reasonable to be used as adjunctive therapy in pts with NYHA class II - IV to reduce mortality and CV hospitalizations?
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA)
What meds should be avoided in HF?
Products contains ephedra (ma huang) or ephedrine
NSAIDs, including COX-2 inhibitors (due to risk of renal insufficiency and fluid retention)
What alt med has shown promise in HF?
Hawthorn and coenzyme Q10
What meds are the cornerstones of HF therapy?
Diuretics to control fluid volume \+ Angiotensin antagonist (ACE-I or ARBs) \+ Beta blockers (to delay the progression of cardiac dysfunction and improve survival)
These combo should be used in everyone with HF, who doesn’t have a CI or intolerance to their use
Which of the cornerstones of HF therapy improves survival rate?
Beta blockers
What type of diuretic is more commonly used in HF?
Loop diuretics
MOA of loop diuretics?
They block Na and Cl reabsorption in the THICK ASCENDING LIMB OF LOOP OF HENLE =>
Increased excretion of water, Na, Cl, Mg and Ca
What’s excreted by loop diuretics in HF?
Water
Sodium
Chloride
Magnesium
Calcium
Whys the lowest effective dose of loop used in HF?
They haven’t been shown to alter the survival of HF pts
List loop diuretics used in HF?
Furosemide (Lasix)
Bumetanide
Torsemide (Demadex)
Ethacrynic Acid (Edecrin)
Whats the brand name of Furosemide (loop used in HF)?
Lasix
Whats the oral loop dose equivalency of Furosemide (Lasix)?
40mg
Whats the oral loop dose equivalency of Bumetanide?
1mg
Whats the oral loop dose equivalency of Torsemide (Dermadex)?
20mg
Whats the oral loop dose equivalency of Ethacrynic acid (Edecrin)?
50mg
What’s warning associated with loops use?
Sulfa allergy
Which loop is the sulfa allergy warning not applicable to?
Ethacrynic acid (Edecrin)
SEs of loop?
Hypokalemia
Orthostatic hypotension
Decreased Na, Mg, Cl, Ca (different than thiazides which increase Ca)
Metabolic alkalosis
Hyperuricemia (increased uric acid)
Hyperglycemia
Increased TGs, TC
Photosensitivity
Ototoxicity (more with Ethacrynic acid), including hearing loss, tinnitus and vertigo
Monitoring for loops?
BH REF
BP
Hearing with high doses of rapid IV admin
Renal fxn (SCr, BUN)
Electrolytes
Fluid status (in’s and out’s, weight)
Which loops are light-sensitive (stored in Amber bottles)?
IV furosemide and Bumetanide
What’s the furosemide IV to PO ratio?
1:2
Furosemide 20mg IV = Furosemide 40mg PO