Heart Failure Symptoms

Symptoms of heart failure are not always typical and can be difficult to interpret. Especially when patients also suffer from other conditions.^1,2

The main symptom of heart failure is shortness of breath which worsens in the supine position (orthopnea), during exertion (exercise-induced dyspnea) and specifically at night (paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea).²

Classes of Heart Failure

The most commonly used system is the New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Classification. It places patients in one of four classes based on their physical activity limitations.³

Chronic Heart Failure Diagnosis

The diagnosis of CHF requires the presence of symptoms and/or signs of HF and objective evidence of cardiac dysfunction. ² Typical symptoms include breathlessness, fatigue, and ankle swelling. Symptoms and signs lack sufficient accuracy to be used alone to make the diagnosis of HF. The diagnosis of CHF is made more likely in patients with a history of MI, arterial hypertension, CAD, diabetes mellitus, alcohol misuse, chronic kidney disease (CKD), cardiotoxic chemotherapy, and in those with a family history of CMP or sudden death.²

HF: heart failure, NYHA: New York Heart Association Functional Classification, ESC: European Society of Cardiology, CHF: chronic Heart Failure, CAD: coronary Artery Disease, CMP: Cardiomyopathy, BNP: B-type natriuretic peptide, ECG: electrocardiogram, HFmrEF: heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction, HFpEF: heart failure with preserved ejection fraction;. HFrEF: heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, LVEF: left ventricular ejection fraction, NT-proBNP: N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide,