Heart Failure in Outpatient Practice. A Guide for Practicing Physicians

Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome with manifestations currently identified or noted in the past, characterized by structural and/or functional disturbances of cardiac activity, accompanied by increased levels of natriuretic peptide and/or objective signs of pulmonary or systemic venous congestion. Signs of heart dysfunction include an ejection fraction (EF) <50%, pathological enlargement of the heart chambers, moderate or severe ventricular hypertrophy, or moderate or severe valve damage (stenosis or regurgitation). Objective signs of pulmonary or systemic venous congestion are confirmed through imaging or stress testing methods. The new book in the series 'Physician of the Highest Category' is dedicated to methods of managing acute heart failure with sudden onset or rapidly increasing symptoms and signs, up to the development of pulmonary edema or cardiogenic shock, requiring urgent hospitalization and emergency treatment for heart failure, as well as therapy for chronic heart failure with episodic, often gradual progression of symptoms and signs, up to the development of circulatory decompensation.