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Heart failure - chronic - Management
Basis for recommendation
The information on when to suspect heart failure is based on the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guideline Chronic heart failure: national clinical guideline for diagnosis and management in primary and secondary care [National Clinical Guideline Centre for Acute and Chronic Conditions, 2010] and guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology [European Society of Cardiology, 2008].
Symptoms, signs, and medical history for diagnosing heart failure
- There is evidence that diagnostically useful information is provided by overall clinical impression; breathlessness; dependent oedema; third or fourth heart sounds; abdominojugular reflux; jugular venous distention; pulmonary crackles; and history of myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidaemia. The findings that are most specific for heart failure are third heart sound (gallop rhythm) and elevated jugular venous pressure. The precision of clinical findings associated with heart failure varies greatly.
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