The Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA), Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology (HFA-ESC) and Japanese Heart Failure Society (JFHS) have joined forces to develop and publish a standardized definition of heart failure (HF) that can be referenced by specialists anywhere in the world.
The guidance, published in both the Journal of Cardiac Failure and the European Journal of Heart Failure, also focuses on standardized language to use when classifying HF.
“Currently available definitions of HF are ambiguous and lack standardization,” wrote first author Biykem Bozkurt, MD, PhD, immediate past president of the HFSA, and colleagues. “Some definitions focus on the diagnostic features of the clinical syndrome, whereas other definitions approach the definition as a characterization of the hemodynamic and physiological aspects. There is significant variation in different platforms and a growing need for standardization of the definition of HF.”
The HFSA, HFA-ESC and JFHS have a long history of collaborating, meeting once a year at the Trilateral International Heart Failure Consensus Conference to exchange ideas and discuss the future of care for HF patients. Developing a universal definition of HF became a top priority when the groups met in 2020.
“I'm sure I speak for the leaders of HFSA and JHFS when I say HFA-ESC leaders are thrilled that we used our time together in 2020 to focus on a global consensus of the definition and classification of heart failure, which will certainly unite all those who are working to reduce the burden of heart failure around the world,” HFA-ESC President Andrew Coats, DM, said in a statement.
Read the full guidance here. The document has also been endorsed by the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand, Chinese Heart Failure Association, Canadian Heart Failure Society and Heart Failure Association of India.
Michael has more than 16 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.