Insuficiencia cardiaca crónica
- Martín Luengo, Cándido
- Jiménez Candil, J.
- Iscar Galán, A.
- Pabón Osuna, Pedro
ISSN: 0304-5412
Year of publication: 2013
Issue Title: Enfermedades cardiovasculares (I): insuficiencia cardiaca
Series: 11
Issue: 35
Pages: 2136-2145
Type: Article
More publications in: Medicine: Programa de Formación Médica Continuada Acreditado
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Abstract
Chronic heart failure (CHF), congestive usually, is often the end stage of many heart diseases. Despite the undoubted progress in the treatment, CHF continues having high mortality rates and with frequent hospital admissions and re-admissions. Knowledge of patient's natural history is very important in order to address the disease and to prevent or delay the development of the syndrome in its fullest expression. The onset of CHF starts before symptoms, due to the presence of risk factors. The diagnosis is based on the symptoms and physical signs. Notwithstanding the measurement of plasma natriuretic peptide concentrations is the diagnostic key in patients with a suspected diagnosis of CHF, it is always necessary the echocardiography to identify structural or functional cardiac disorders.