Heart Failure: A Lack of Oxygen

Heart failure (HF) is defined as a structural or functional abnormality of the heart’s pumping mechanism leading to an insufficient supply of oxygen and nutrients to meet the metabolic needs of various organs. HF is a complex and heterogeneous syndrome encompassing diverse etiologies, pathophysiological mechanisms, and clinical presentations.

Heart failure can be a complication of various cardiovascular conditions:

• Ischemic heart disease, first and foremost

• But also hypertension

• Cardiomyopathies

• Valvular heart disease

• Heart rhythm disorders, such as atrial fibrillation, etc.

In addition, respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or pulmonary hypertension are common causes of the condition. Chronic heart failure follows a fluctuating course with acute episodes of decompensation, which are a frequent cause of hospitalization.

This condition is common and has a poor prognosis. Its prevalence, estimated by the European Society of Cardiology at between 1 and 2% in developed countries, increases sharply with age starting at 75 years. It tends to rise due to the aging population. Air pollution has also been identified as a risk factor for this condition.

Furthermore, therapeutic advances in treating heart failure itself and its underlying causes are leading to longer patient survival, thereby increasing the prevalence of the disease. However, therapeutic management still needs to be optimized.