Aims CHF Management

• • With respects to treatment there are 2 main aims:
  • To stabilise the condition and prevent decompensation – an acute exacerbation of heart failure
  • To reduce patient symptoms and increase quality of life
  • Decompensation is typified by a relatively sudden significant change in the patient’s cardiovascular health status
  • It may be due to an unrelated pathological event or illness (e.g. an infection, AMI, etc.) a change in drug regime or compliance with pharmacology or a change to a normal everyday life parameter such as food or drink
• Management of CHF:

  • We can think of management occurring on 4 levels
  • A patient may be managed on multiple levels depending on the category and severity of their condition:
  • Conservative / general management – should be applied to all
  • Drug therapy – applied to all symptomatic cases of CHF and some asymptomatic ones
  • Physical activity / exercise management – should be applied to all – tailored approach
  • Surgical options and the provision of supportive devices – where necessary
• Management of CHF:

  • aim:
  • to maintain and stabilise the condition
  • to avoid decompensation
  • to improve quality of life for the individual