Advanced heart failure: a position statement of the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology

Maria G Crespo-Leiro, Marco Metra, Lars H Lund, Davor Milicic, Maria Rosa Costanzo, Gerasimos Filippatos, Finn Gustafsson, Steven Tsui, Eduardo Barge-Caballero, Nicolaas De Jonge, Maria Frigerio, Righab Hamdan, Tal Hasin, Martin Hülsmann, Sanem Nalbantgil, Luciano Potena, Johann Bauersachs, Aggeliki Gkouziouta, Arjang Ruhparwar, Arsen D RisticEwa Straburzynska-Migaj, Theresa McDonagh, Petar Seferovic, Frank Ruschitzka

151 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This article updates the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 2007 classification of advanced heart failure and describes new diagnostic and treatment options for these patients. Recognizing the patient with advanced heart failure is critical to facilitate timely referral to advanced heart failure centres. Unplanned visits for heart failure decompensation, malignant arrhythmias, co-morbidities, and the 2016 ESC guidelines criteria for the diagnosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction are included in this updated definition. Standard treatment is, by definition, insufficient in these patients. Inotropic therapy may be used as a bridge strategy, but it is only a palliative measure when used on its own, because of the lack of outcomes data. Major progress has occurred with short-term mechanical circulatory support devices for immediate management of cardiogenic shock and long-term mechanical circulatory support for either a bridge to transplantation or as destination therapy. Heart transplantation remains the treatment of choice for patients without contraindications. Some patients will not be candidates for advanced heart failure therapies. For these patients, who are often elderly with multiple co-morbidities, management of advanced heart failure to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life should be emphasized. Robust evidence from prospective studies is lacking for most therapies for advanced heart failure. There is an urgent need to develop evidence-based treatment algorithms to prolong life when possible and in accordance with patient preferences, increase life quality, and reduce the burden of hospitalization in this vulnerable patient population.

Original languageEnglish
JournalEuropean Journal of Heart Failure
Volume20
Issue number11
Pages (from-to)1505-1535
Number of pages31
ISSN1388-9842
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2018

Keywords

  • Cardiology
  • Diagnostic Techniques, Cardiovascular
  • Europe
  • Heart Failure/classification
  • Heart Transplantation
  • Heart-Assist Devices
  • Humans
  • Societies, Medical

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