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Congestive Heart Failure

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Cardiology in Family Practice

Part of the book series: Current Clinical Practice ((CCP,volume 1))

Abstract

Congestive heart failure (CHF) can be defined as the inability of the heart to provide an adequate cardiac output without invoking maladaptive compensatory mechanisms. CHF affects more than 5.7 million patients in the US – 2.5% of the adult population [1]. Five million and fifty thousand patients develop heart failure for the first time every year, and CHF results in 280,000 cardiovascular deaths and 1,100,000 hospital admissions per year in the US [1]. CHF is now the most common reason for hospitalization in the elderly, and annual costs are estimated at more than $39 billion [1]. The incidence of heart failure has been increasing, not only due to the aging of the population but also because improved treatment of hypertension and coronary disease is allowing patients to avoid early mortality only to develop heart failure later.

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Correspondence to Steven Hollenberg .

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Hollenberg, S., Heitner, S. (2012). Congestive Heart Failure. In: Cardiology in Family Practice. Current Clinical Practice, vol 1. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-385-1_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-385-1_5

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