Pathology, prognosis, and prevention of heart failure

Optimal management of patients with heart failure (HF) should be guided by thorough evaluation and use of functional classification and disease staging systems. Though the understanding of precise underlying pathophysiological mechanisms has increased dramatically in recent years, it is essential to continue the search for greater efficacy in preventing, controlling, and reversing this pathological state. Recent developments in the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure have improved prognosis in terms of both survival and morbidity due to re-hospitalization. The underutilization of medical and preventive therapies in patients with heart failure is a major public health issue, despite the recommendations of various evidence-based guide lines. Patient education and disease management programs have been shown to optimize HF-management by bridging the gap between evidence-based medicine and clinical practice, thereby, reducing hospitalization rate. This paper, the first in a series of three papers, will identify the pathology, prognosis and prevention of heart failure, while the paper to follow will discuss modern methods of interventional management.