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Heart failure

October 3, 2023 — published by Pyramidale Communication

At Pyramidale Communication Agency, we leverage our expertise across many chronic diseases. Heart failure is one of them.

Key numbers on heart failure ¹

Over 1.5 million patients affected in France
Leading cause of hospitalization in France after age 65
2 to 3% of the general population and 10% of people over 75 years old
120,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, with this number increasing by 25% every 4 years
70,000 deaths per year and nearly 200,000 hospitalizations
1 death every 7 minutes

What is heart failure?

Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle is unable to pump blood effectively throughout the body and can no longer meet the body’s needs for oxygenated blood. This condition arises when the heart’s ability to contract or relax properly is impaired, most often because the heart muscle is weakened, stiff, or both. ²

There are two main categories of heart failure: heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. ²

Diagnostic criteria and medical care

Four key symptoms, summarized by the acronym EPOF, should raise suspicion of heart failure. Their combination, particularly when of recent onset, is suggestive of the condition: ¹

Shortness of breath during exertion and/or when lying down (E)
Significant weight gain over a few days (P)
Edema of the lower limbs, leading to swollen legs and feet (O)
Marked fatigue, even with minimal effort, leading to reduced activity and worsening muscle loss (F)

Clinical examination also contributes to the diagnosis, including liver palpation, inspection of the legs and neck veins, cardiac auscultation, and blood pressure measurement.
An electrocardiogram is often performed, usually in conjunction with blood tests measuring B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels, which increase in heart failure. ^2,3

Echocardiography remains the cornerstone investigation for assessing heart failure.³

The primary goal of medical care is to prevent cardiac decompensation, which may occur even in patients with few or no symptoms.⁴

In addition to early initiation or optimization of medical treatment, patients with heart failure should follow lifestyle and dietary recommendations summarized by the acronym EPON.^1,5

Exercise (E)
Monitor body weight (P)
Adhere to prescribed treatment (O)
Limit salt intake (N).

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