[Acute heart failure]

Acute heart failure Abstract. Acute heart failure (AHF) is a life-threatening condition requiring immediate treatment. The initial therapy should take into account the clinical presentation, the pathophysiology at play, the precipitating factors, and the underlying cardiac pathology. Particular attention should be given to polymorbidity and the avoidance of potential iatrogenic harms. Patient preferences and ethical issues should be integrated into the treatment plan at an early stage. The average survival of AHF patients is two years and the most vulnerable period is the three-month time window directly after discharge. Therefore, reducing both persistent subclinical congestion and underutilization of disease-modifying heart failure therapies as well as ensuring optimal transitions of care after hospital discharge are essentials in improving outcomes of AHF patients.