About this Research Topic
Heart failure (HF) is a pandemic issue among cardiovascular diseases. Despite innovations in diagnosing and treatments, data from recent trials still show increasing rates in prevalence and incidence and an overall mortality higher than 9%.
The most challenging condition related to HF management is the occurrence of worsening HF (WHF). Despite the lack of uniform definition for WHF, the occurrence of destabilization within chronic setting represents the most worrisome moment in the natural history of HF: firstly, it represents the failure of daily pharmacological treatments; secondly, the occurrence of destabilization promotes a well-known reduction in recovery skills of the heart function and morphology of HF patients; thirdly, the need for upgrading therapies at discharge is a challenging issue due to lack of definite tools and molecules able to overcome the “most tolerated therapy” which was performed before hospital admission.
The scientific discussion about the occurrence of WHF and its management is further related to a comprehensive evaluation of the congestion status of patients. The need for multiparametric approaches to congestion evaluation is fundamental for exactly diagnosing residual congestion status in this category of patients. Most of patients are still discharged from intensive care units with residual congestion or, sometimes, dehydrated. These conditions are specifically related to overall mortality. Indeed, accurate evaluations about the exact hydration status of patients is lacking in most of the cardiologic units worldwide.
Finally, there is paucity of data about the use of commonly updated pharmacological treatments in the management of patients with WHF.
Therefore, the aims of this research topic were: 1. To provide data about gaps in evidence in WHF; 2. To include original articles able to point out the most innovative treatments in the general management of patients with WHF; 3. To give opportunities for displaying future perspectives in WHF.
The most challenging condition related to HF management is the occurrence of worsening HF (WHF). Despite the lack of uniform definition for WHF, the occurrence of destabilization within chronic setting represents the most worrisome moment in the natural history of HF: firstly, it represents the failure of daily pharmacological treatments; secondly, the occurrence of destabilization promotes a well-known reduction in recovery skills of the heart function and morphology of HF patients; thirdly, the need for upgrading therapies at discharge is a challenging issue due to lack of definite tools and molecules able to overcome the “most tolerated therapy” which was performed before hospital admission.
The scientific discussion about the occurrence of WHF and its management is further related to a comprehensive evaluation of the congestion status of patients. The need for multiparametric approaches to congestion evaluation is fundamental for exactly diagnosing residual congestion status in this category of patients. Most of patients are still discharged from intensive care units with residual congestion or, sometimes, dehydrated. These conditions are specifically related to overall mortality. Indeed, accurate evaluations about the exact hydration status of patients is lacking in most of the cardiologic units worldwide.
Finally, there is paucity of data about the use of commonly updated pharmacological treatments in the management of patients with WHF.
Therefore, the aims of this research topic were: 1. To provide data about gaps in evidence in WHF; 2. To include original articles able to point out the most innovative treatments in the general management of patients with WHF; 3. To give opportunities for displaying future perspectives in WHF.
Keywords: Worsening Heart Failure, Cardiovascular Epidemiology, Heart Failure, Treatments, patient care
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