What is Chronic Heart Failure? 3 Things to Know Based on the new DMP Guidelines

Heart failure affects about 5.1 million people in the United Sates alone and one in nine deaths that occurred in 2009 was linked to heart failure, according to the CDC.

Furthermore, 50% of those who are diagnosed with heart failure die within five years of the diagnosis. Heart failure is a serious threat and a major health issue that authorities continue to address.

But what exactly is heart failure or chronic heart failure? According to the American Heart Association, heart failure is a "chronic, progressive condition" wherein a the heart is no longer able to pump blood throughout the body, therefore failing to meet its needs for both blood and oxygen. When the heart experiences this, it usually enlarges, therefore stretching to accommodate more pressure in pumping blood. The heart may also develop more muscle mass and pump blood faster.

In contrast to acute heart failure, which happens suddenly like a heart attack, chronic heart failure develops over time.

Recently, the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWIG) released a report outlining the results of evidence-based guidelines for treatment of chronic heart failure patients. The report's objective is to identify which recommendations form current guidelines of high methodological quality are most relevant for disease management program (DMP), Eurekalert reports.

The IQWIG initially published a preliminary report last July and invited various reviewing bodies to submit comments. The report was then revised and submitted to the Federal Joint Committee in November.

The following are some highlights from the report, which guidelines are set to be published in May.

1. The report contains 22 health care guidelines including diagnostic procedures and non-drug interventions, and lifestyle changes. The guidelines also include drugs, interventional therapies (form of cardiac resynchronization or implantable defibrillators). Moreover, the recommendations also include monitoring, patient training, pallative care of patients who have end-stage disease, and pregnant patient care.

2. The difference between chronic and acute heart failure treatment. According to the recommendations, heart failure stages varies from both acute to chronic, which is why some people with the disease are treated as outpatients. They are only treated in hospitals if and when they experience acute heart failure such as a heart attack.

3. Guidelines lack recommendations regarding care for patients who have common concomitant diseases such as renal failure, diabetes mellitus or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), all of which are common diseases that chronic heart failure patients may also have. There is also a lack of recommendations for the care of patients who use multiple drugs at the same time.

For more information on heart failure and this disease, visit the American Heart Association at heart.org.