Pharmacological Treatment of Chronic Congestive Heart Failure

Abstract

Chronic congestive heart failure is a clinical syndrome based on the progressive deterioration of contractile (systolic) heart function due to structural or functional disorders. The incidence of the disease increases with age, so the prevalence in people older than 75 years is greater than 10%. Due to the different clinical presentation, the pharmacological approach to the patient is individual, and most patients are treated on an outpatient basis, according to the guidelines taken from the recommendations of professional associations. Hospitalization is necessary in severe forms of CHF or acute exacerbations. Patients with severe hemodynamic disturbances due to acute CHF require treatment in intensive care units, due to specific cardiovascular therapy, respiratory support and vital functions monitoring. Individualized, stepwise and rational pharmacological therapy achieves significant symptomatic and functional improvement in most patients.