Heart Failure – Nurse Practitioner

Heart failure (HF) is a common condition that causes significant disability and death in the US and around the world. About 6.5 million adults in the US have HF – and despite advances in drug and device therapies, HF was a contributing cause of 1 in 8 deaths in 2017.The estimated total cost of HF (including health care, medication and missed work) in 2012 was almost $31 billion.The prevalence of HF continues to rise, and is expected to exceed 8 million people by 2030. By this time, the medical costs of HF management are projected to reach $53 billion annually. This issue describes the physiology underlying different types of HF and reviews all aspects of the medications that are currently available and recommended for its management. Various factors and medications that can worsen HF are also discussed.