Document Detail


Heart failure--implications of the true size of the problem.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  8774385     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
We review current knowledge on the true size of the clinical condition known as 'heart failure' in terms of epidemiological information and in relation to the true clinical burden. Population studies, together with data from physician and general practitioner records, reveal a range of estimated heart-failure prevalence of 1-10%. Estimated incidence rates vary from approximately 0-1% per annum. Reasons for variation include age, sex and, possibly, methodology. In community studies, the five-year mortality is between 50-60% while, in patients requiring hospital admission, the annual mortality is 10-20% in those with mild-moderate symptoms, and as high as 40-60% in severe heart failure. While angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor treatment does significantly improve mortality in all grades of symptomatic heart failure, the annual mortality in severe patients was still 36% in CONSENSUS I. It is obvious that the term 'heart failure' is insufficiently descriptive or specific to be an acceptable label for all patients who might benefit from treatment. As 'clinical' heart failure is often an advanced and irreversible state, studies of its antecedents are important in developing strategies aimed at retarding the progression from the asymptomatic to the symptomatic conditions. The true prevalence of the most common antecedent, left ventricular dysfunction, has received relatively little attention.
Authors:
H J Dargie; J J McMurray; T A McDonagh
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of internal medicine     Volume:  239     ISSN:  0954-6820     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Intern. Med.     Publication Date:  1996 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1996-09-26     Completed Date:  1996-09-26     Revised Date:  2007-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8904841     Medline TA:  J Intern Med     Country:  ENGLAND    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  309-15     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Cardiology, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use
Cost of Illness
Female
Health Care Costs
Heart Failure / drug therapy,  economics,  epidemiology*,  etiology
Hospital Mortality
Humans
Incidence
Male
Population Surveillance
Prevalence
Risk Factors
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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