1. Heart Failure.
Ron Leslie
19/07/2017

2. Aims. Heart failure definition and epidemiology
Heart failure ‘types’ and treatment
Case studies

3. Definition.
PHYSIOLOGICAL – inability of the heart to pump sufficient oxygenated blood to the metabolizing tissues despite an adequate filling pressure.
CLINICAL – syndrome consisting of symptoms caused by cardiac dysfunction.
Gardner et al (2007)

4. Epidemiology.
The incidence of heart failure is approximately 57.9 per 100,000 with a prevalence of approximately 1%. (Townsend et al. 2012).
Heart failure hospitalisations account for up to 70% of heart failure expenditure and 2% of all NHS bed- days.(NICE 2010) Once patients suffer their first HF admission to hospital, 40.2% of HF patients die within 12 months, based on data from all heart failure patients across England on QOF HF registers.(HSCIC 2015)
5-year survival rates for heart failure are worse than for common cancers such as breast and prostate.(Askoxylakis et al. 2010) Patients on GP heart failure registers, representing prevalent cases of heart failure, have a 5-year survival rate of 58% compared with 93% in the age- and sex-matched general population.(NICE 2010).

5. Diagnosis. History Clinical Assessment Natriuretic Peptides;
Two most common:
B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP)
N-terminal pro B-type Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP)
Exclusion threshold at presentation (ESC 2012):
BNP: Acute 100pg/ml, non acute 35pg/ml
NT-proBNP: Acute 300pg/ml, non acute 125pg/ml
Echocardiogram

6. Aetiology of Heart Failure.
Ischemic Heart Disease
Hypertension
Valve disease
Arrhythmias
Cardiomyopathy
Congenital Heart Disease
Iatrogenic
Metabolic
McDonagh et al (2011)

7. Clinical Features. Clinical features Sensitivity (%) Specificity (%)
Breathlessness 66 52
Orthopnoea 21 81
PND 33 76
History of oedema 23 80
Tachycardia 7 99
Pulmonary crackles 13 91
Oedema on examination 10 93
Third heart sound 31 95
Raised JVP 97
McDonagh et al (2011)

8. Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction.
Signs and symptoms of heart failure +;
Reduced ejection fraction (Steed et al 2011);
Normal ≥55%
Mild LVSD 45-54%
Moderate LVSD 35-44%
Severe LVSD ≤35%
Significant volume of empirical evidence available on its management
Pharmacological
Intervention / Devices
NICE Chronic Heart Failure Guidelines (2010), Nice Quality Standard + QOF indicators available to standardise practice

9. Pharmacological management.
Multitude of clinical trials and guidelines which supporting the use of medications in the management of heart failure;
First line treatment:
ACE Inhibitor / Angiotensin receptor blocker
Beta Blocker
Second line treatment:
Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist
Entresto (Sacubitril/Valsartan)
If symptoms persist despite above interventions:
Ivabradine
Digoxin
Hydralazine / Nitrate

10. Neuro-hormonal Activation.
Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System.
Sympathetic Nervous System Activation.

13. Diastolic Dysfunction.
Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction is thought to be the underlying pathophysiological abnormality in patients with HF-PEF (ESC 2012)
No single echocardiographic parameter is sufficiently accurate and reproducible to be used in isolation to make a diagnosis (ESC 2012)
E/A ratio commonly commented on in echocardiogram reports where diastolic dysfunction is reported
NICE (2010) recommends to treat co-morbid / contributory conditions in line with published NICE guidance.

14. Right Heart Failure.
Usually occurs as a consequence of respiratory disorders / pathophysiology
Cor pulmonale
Can be a caused by primary cardiovascular disease e.g. mitral valve disease, right ventricular infarction
Typically systemic congestion is main physical manifestation and cause of symptoms
Specialist regional centres exist for the management of pulmonary hypertension

15. Fluid Management. Measurements of fluid status: Fluid Restriction:
Input/output chart
Daily weights
CVP
Fluid Restriction:
Education
Documentation / communication
Diuretic therapy:
IV vs Oral
Multiple agent choices
Kidney function

16. Haemodynamic Alterations.
Patients with cardiac conditions may experience:
High / low blood pressure
Fast / slow heart rates
Questions to consider:
What are the patients normal parameters?
Are they compromised by abnormal findings?
What is their NEWS score, may this be adjusted for long term condition?
Most importantly remember:
Documentation
Communication
Planning

17. Case Study 1. 29 year old male
MHX: Dilated cardiomyopathy (alcoholic), Chronic kidney disease, CRT-D.
Echo: LVEF 20%, dilated left ventricle and atrium, trivial valve disease.
Recent hospital admission, attending surgery for medication review:
SOB – NYHA III
Fatigue
Orthopnea
PND

18. Case Study 2. 66 year old male.
MHX: Hypertension, Prostate Cancer, Anaemia, Type II Diabetes
Echo: LVEF 57%, mild concentric left ventricular hypertrophy
Seen in surgery due to increasing symptoms, poor blood pressure control:
Symptoms;
SOB – NYHA III
Orthopnea
Palpitations
BNP 4000pg/ml

19. Case Study 3. 82 year old female
MHX: COPD, Pulmonary Hypertension, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Chronic Kidney Disease
Echo: LVEF 58%, Mild mitral regurgitation, moderate tricuspid regurgitation, RVSP 54mm/Hg, moderate/ severe dilated right atrium and ventricle
Review due to abnormal kidney function (stage 3BCKD):
SOB – NYHA IV
Fatigue
Orthopnea

20. Any Questions?

21. References / Resources.
Askoxylakis V, Thieke C, Pleger S, Most P,Tanner J, Lindel K, Katus H, Debus J, Bischof M 2010 Long-term survival of cancer patients compared to heart failure and stroke: A systematic review 10:105 BMC Cancer
Gardner RS, McDonagh TA, Walker NL 2007 Oxford Specialist Handbooks in Cardiology – Heart Failure Oxford: Oxford University Press
McDonagh TA, RS Gardner, AL Clark and H Dargie 2011 Oxford Textbook of Heart Failure Oxford: Oxford University Press
McMurray, JJ, S Adampoulos, SD Anker et al ESC Committee for Practice Guidelines 2012 ESC guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic heart failure European Heart Journal 33 (14)
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence 2010 Chronic heart failure management: London
Steed R, Wharton G, Allen J, Chambers J, Graham J, Jones R, Rana B, Masani N 2011Echocardiography Guidelines for Chamber Quantification British Heart Foundation: London
Townsend N, Wickramasinghe K, Bhatnagar P, Smolina K, Nichols M, Leal J, Luengo-Fernandez R, Rayner M 2012 Coronary heart disease statistics edition. British Heart Foundation: London.