[New aspects of guidelines for treatment of chronic heart failure (JCS 2010)]

The Japanese Circulation Society (JCS) first published guidelines for the treatment of chronic heart failure (CHF) in 2000 and published revised guidelines in 2005. A great deal of progress has been made in the development of both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatment for CHF in the world. In addition, various data from Japanese clinical trials have been accumulated since first publication. Accordingly, JCS determined to reassess and update guidelines in 2010. Experts in the subject are selected from 13 Japanese organizations including JCS. The guideline recommendations are based on the data from clinical trials and are intended to assist healthcare providers in clinical decision making by describing a range of generally acceptable approaches for the diagnosis and management of CHF. The guideline recommendations regarding as cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), cardiac rehabilitation, and waon therapy are newly added. Moreover, the effect of gender differences is taken into account in the pharmacologic treatment. Guidelines will be updated with advances in future.