Week 4 - Chronic Heart Failure

Question 1

Epidemiology of Chronic Heart Failure (HF)

Answer 1

• poor prognosis and profound adverse effects on quality of life
• affects > 38 million people worldwide & 480 000 australians
• common cause: CHD and HT
• only 50% of patients diagnosed with HF will be alive 5 years later

Question 2

Pathophysiology of Chronic Heart Failure (HF)

Answer 2

progressive clinical syndrome that can result from any structural or functional disorder that impairs the ability of the ventricle to fill with or eject blood at rest or during physical activity

Question 3

HFrEF

Answer 3

Heart failure with reduced ejection fracture
- left ventricle cannot contract properly and fails to effectively eject blood
- left ventricular ejection fraction < than 40%

Question 4

HFpEF

Answer 4

Heart failure with persevered ejection fraction
- impairment of the left ventricle to relax and fill with bloodS

Question 5

Symptoms of Chronic HF

Answer 5

Typical:
dysponea
orthopnoea
paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea
fatique

less typical
nocturnal cough
wheeze
abdominal bloating
anorexia
depression
palpitations

Question 6

Non drug treatment

Answer 6

Assess salt and fluid restriction
weight reduction
smoking cessation
limit alchol
assessment for depression
tolerable exercise encouraged
symtom management - sleep with extra pillows
MULTI-DISCIPLINARY HEART FAILURE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

Question 7

Pharmacological treatment - HFrEF

Answer 7

drugs that increase survuval and decrease hospitalisation
- ACE-Is/ARBs
- beta blockers
- mineral corticoid-receptor antagonists
- angiotensin - receptor neprilysin inhibitors to replace ACE-I if Sx not controlled
- Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2