BACKGROUND Pulmonary abnormalities are found in both chronic heart failure (CHF) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The differences of pulmonary function in chronic left heart failure and chronic right heart failure are not fully understood. MATERIAL AND METHODS We evaluated 120 patients with stable CHF (60 with chronic left heart failure and 60 with chronic right heart failure). All ...

Why can chronic heart failure be a catabolic state? The resting metabolic rate of some, but not all patients with heart failure is increased. Resting metabolic rate may account for up to 70% of daily energy expenditure in heart failure, and increases with NYHA functional class. Resting energy expenditure accounts for a greater proportion of daily energy expenditure in heart failure patients, al...

BACKGROUND Outcomes related to chronic heart failure (HF) remain relatively poor, despite advances in pharmacological therapy and medical and nursing care. Experts agree that outpatient care may be among the factors that affect HF outcomes. We hypothesized that the method by which outpatient care is delivered may affect outcomes in this patient population. METHODS A prospective, randomized de...

The effect of the vasodilator prazosin vs placebo on exercise duration until marked dyspnea, and on left ventricular function measured by echocardiography, was evaluated in a double-blind, randomized study in 24 patients with chronic left ventricular failure despite digitalis and diuretic therapy. Compared with the double-blind placebo, prazosin reduced resting systolic and diastolic blood pres...

BACKGROUND Chronic heart failure is common, particularly in older individuals, and comorbidities are frequent. Patients with end stage heart failure can be highly symptomatic and require careful monitoring and treatment adjustment to improve symptoms. OBJECTIVE This article summarises the fundamentals of implementing palliative care in general practice and provides guidelines on caring for ch...

Background: As for high prevalence and incidence of heart failure, it can impose huge health, economic, and social burden on society. Education and self-care are important aspects of management in patients with heart failure, which can control the disease complications. This study aimed to investigate the effect of family-centered education approach on self-care behaviors of the patients wi...

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is now recognized as a major and escalating public health problem. The costs of this syndrome, both in economic and personal terms, are considerable. The prevalence of CHF is 1-2% and appears to be increasing, in part because of ageing of the population. Economic analyses of CHF should include both direct and indirect costs of care. Healthcare expenditure on CHF in d...

Heart failure (HF) is associated with weight loss, and cachexia is a well-recognized complication. Patients have an increased risk of osteoporosis and lose muscle bulk early in the course of the disease. Basal metabolic rate is increased in HF, but general malnutrition may play a part in the development of cachexia, particularly in an elderly population. There is evidence for a possible role fo...

Case 1: A 54-year-old man with a history of myocardial infarction (MI) presented with exertional dyspnea. Physical examination was unremarkable. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by Doppler echocardiography was 35%, and a stress test was negative for ischemia. The patient was taking aspirin, a statin, and an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. He was started on 12.5 mg/d meto...