Acute heart failure: Patient characteristics and pathophysiology

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Catherine N. Marti, Emory University; Vasiliki Georgiopoulou, Emory University; Andreas Kalogeropoulos, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2013-12-01
• Publisher: Springer (part of Springer Nature): Springer Open Choice Hybrid Journals
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11897-013-0151-y
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Current Heart Failure Reports
• ISSN: 1546-9530
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 4
• Start Page: 427
• End Page: 433
• Grant/Funding Information: This study was supported in part by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number UL1TR000454.
• Keywords: Prognosis; Heart Failure; Hemodynamics; Humans; Neurotransmitter Agents; Hospitalization; Acute Disease; Kidney; Oxidative Stress
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, General

Abstract

The number of hospitalizations for acute heart failure (HF) continues to increase and it remains the most common discharge diagnosis among Medicare beneficiaries. Prognosis after hospitalization for HF is poor, with high in-hospital mortality and even higher post-discharge mortality and rehospitalization rates. It is a complex clinical syndrome that varies widely with respect to clinical presentation and underlying pathophysiology. This paper reviews what is documented in the literature regarding the known pathophysiologic mechanisms reported in patients hospitalized for HF.