
Time‐sensitive approach in the management of acute heart failure
Author(s) -
Shiraishi Yasuyuki,
Kawana Masataka,
Nakata Jun,
Sato Naoki,
Fukuda Keiichi,
Kohsaka Shun
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
esc heart failure
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.787
H-Index - 25
ISSN - 2055-5822
DOI - 10.1002/ehf2.13139
Subject(s) - medicine , intensive care medicine , heart failure , decompensation , clinical trial , pathophysiology , cardiology
Acute heart failure (AHF) has become a global public health burden largely because of the associated high morbidity, mortality, and cost. The treatment options for AHF have remained relatively unchanged over the past decades. Historically, clinical congestion alone has been considered the main target for treatment of acute decompensation in patients with AHF; however, this is an oversimplification of the complex pathophysiology. Within the similar clinical presentation of congestion, significant differences in pathophysiological mechanisms exist between the fluid accumulation and redistribution. Tissue hypoperfusion is another vital characteristic of AHF and should be promptly treated with appropriate interventions. In addition, recent clinical trials of novel therapeutic strategies have shown that heart failure management is ‘time sensitive’ and suggested that treatment selection based on individual aetiologies, triggers, and risk factor profiles could lead to better outcomes. In this review, we aim to describe the specifics of the ‘time‐sensitive’ approach by the clinical phenotypes, for example, pulmonary/systemic congestion and tissue hypoperfusion, wherein patients are classified based on pathophysiological conditions. This mechanistic classification, in parallel with the comprehensive risk assessment, has become a cornerstone in the management of patients with AHF and thus supports effective decision making by clinicians. We will also highlight how therapeutic modalities should be individualized according to each clinical phenotype.