New guidelines have been launched to improve cardiac care and treatment – from heart failure management and best practice in tackling valvular heart disease, to advice on managing cardiac pacing and cardiac resynchronisation therapy
At the European Society of Cardiology’s annual congress more than 39,000 health professionals from 169 countries tuned in to hear the latest scientific research covering the full spectrum of cardiovascular medicine. In addition to the latest research, the online event provided a platform to launch a number of new ESC Clinical Practice Guidelines, including the latest guidance on heart failure management.
Approximately 2% of adults worldwide have heart failure. Prevalence increases with age, from 1% in those under 55 years to more than 10% in people aged 70 and above. In developed countries, the most common causes are coronary artery disease and high blood pressure. Patients with heart failure have a poor prognosis and markedly reduced quality of life. The main symptoms are breathlessness, ankle swelling, and tiredness. After diagnosis, patients are hospitalised once every year on average and more than half die within five years.
Regarding diagnosis, when there is a suspicion of chronic heart failure, the guidelines recommend measuring the level of hormones produced by the heart (natriuretic peptides). If levels are normal the patient can be reassured that heart failure is very unlikely. If high, this should prompt referral for an echocardiogram to detect the underlying heart problem.1
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