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[How to diagnose heart-failure?]

Yu-Ching Liu1, Otmar Pfister1

  • 11 Klinik für Kardiologie, Universitätsspital Basel.

Therapeutische Umschau. Revue Therapeutique
|August 28, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Diagnosing heart failure involves recognizing clinical signs and symptoms. Natriuretic peptides (BNP and NT-proBNP) help confirm the diagnosis, which is finalized with echocardiography to assess cardiac structure and function.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Heart failure is an increasing public health concern due to demographic shifts, particularly the growing elderly population.
  • Clinical presentation of heart failure is characterized by signs and symptoms of increased cardiac filling pressure, congestion, and hypoperfusion.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To outline the diagnostic approach for heart failure.
  • To highlight the role of natriuretic peptides and echocardiography in confirming the diagnosis.

Main Methods:

  • Clinical assessment of signs and symptoms suggestive of heart failure.
  • Measurement of natriuretic peptides (BNP and NT-proBNP) to support or exclude the diagnosis.
  • Echocardiography to identify underlying structural or functional cardiac abnormalities.

Main Results:

  • Clinical signs and symptoms raise suspicion for heart failure.
  • Elevated natriuretic peptide levels corroborate the working diagnosis.
  • Echocardiography confirms heart failure diagnosis by revealing cardiac alterations.

Conclusions:

  • A multi-step diagnostic process is essential for accurate heart failure diagnosis.
  • Natriuretic peptides and echocardiography are crucial tools in the diagnostic pathway.
  • Early and accurate diagnosis is vital for managing this growing public health issue.

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