Canadian Cardiovascular Society Consensus Conference recommendations on heart failure update 2007: Prevention, management during intercurrent illness or acute decompensation, and use of biomarkers

The 2010 Canadian Cardiovascular Society guidelines for the diagnosis and management of heart failure update: Heart failure in ethnic minority populations, heart failure and pregnancy, disease management, and quality improvement/assurance programs

“…It should be arranged urgently in the setting of suspected HF in the pregnant patient. Measurement of plasma B-type natriuretic peptide may be useful in confirming a diagnosis of HF when the diagnosis is not clear (77)(78)(79). Bloodwork should include complete blood The use of x-ray in pregnant women (with fetal shielding in place) should be used only if judged clinically essential.…”

“…In general, patients presenting with acute decompensated HF in pregnancy should be managed according to the CCS acute decompensated HF management algorithm (77). In patients with worsening HF or difficult-to-manage pulmonary edema in the setting of preserved blood pressure, intravenous vasodilators such as nitrates can be used with close monitoring.…”

“…For example, the benefits of better in-hospital care may be undone by suboptimal transitional care or outpatient disease management. Previous updates of the CCS HF guidelines (188)(189)(190) have addressed disease management, transitional care and end-of-life planning and care, formulating recommendations that could form the basis for new performance indicators (Table 8). Whatever their source, performance indicators are more likely to be effective if stakeholders are actively involved in their development and application, and if they are sensitive to the organizational context in which they are used (191).…”

Current treatment options for early management in acute decompensated heart failure

“…The Task Force on Acute Heart Failure of the European Society of Cardiology have issued the only guidelines specifically devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of acute HF (51). The Canadian Cardiovascular Society recently reported on the recommendations from a recent consensus conference on HF (52). These guidelines note the need for personalized care for each patient, based on symptoms, clinical presentation and severity of disease.…”

Acute decompensated heart failure

“…Prevention of such complications will have a significant impact on total cost. Models have been used to justify the use of specific markers, such as B-type natriuretic peptide (4), because improved compliance with guidelines with an increased use of medications (eg, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, beta-blockers) and the appropriate use of cardiac resynchronization therapy has been proven to reduce hospitalization (5,6). Acute decompensated heart failure or acute worsening of chronic heart failure represent three-quarters of hospitalizations due to heart failure according to the Acute Decompensated Heart Failure National Registry (ADHERE) (7).…”