Heart failure (HF) is an important cardiovascular disease because of its increasing prevalence, significant morbidity, high mortality, and rapidly expanding health care cost. The number of HF patients is increasing worldwide, and Korea is no exception. There have been marked advances in definition, diagnostic modalities, and treatment of HF over the past four decades. There is continuing effort to improve risk stratification of HF using biomarkers, imaging and genetic testing. Newly developed medications and devices for HF have been widely adopted in clinical practice. Furthermore, definitive treatment for end-stage heart failure including left ventricular assist device and heart transplantation are rapidly evolving as well. This review summarizes the current state-of-the-art management for HF and the emerging diagnostic and therapeutic modalities to improve the outcome of HF patients.
Biomarkers ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Genetic Testing ; Health Care Costs ; Heart Failure* ; Heart Transplantation ; Heart* ; Heart-Assist Devices ; Humans ; Korea ; Mortality ; Prevalence ; Prognosis

The prevalence of heart failure (HF) is on the rise due to the aging of society. Furthermore, the continuous progress and widespread adoption of screening and diagnostic strategies have led to an increase in the detection rate of HF, effectively increasing the number of patients requiring monitoring and treatment. Because HF is associated with substantial rates of mortality and morbidity, as well as high socioeconomic burden, there is an increasing need for developing specific guidelines for HF management. The Korean guidelines for the diagnosis and management of chronic HF were introduced in March 2016. However, chronic and acute heart failure (AHF) represent distinct disease entities. Here, we introduce the Korean guidelines for the management of AHF with reduced or preserved ejection fraction. Part I of this guideline covers the definition, epidemiology, and diagnosis of AHF.
Aging ; Diagnosis ; Epidemiology ; Heart Failure ; Heart ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Mortality ; Prevalence

Hypertension affects the majority of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, end-stage renal disease and mortality. Previously, many hypertension guidelines have suggested blood pressure targets in patients with CKD. Recently, the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association 2017 Guideline for Hypertension suggests a new definition for hypertension and therapeutic targets, which were equally applicated to patients with CKD. These changes reflect the results of the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) study, but the renal outcome of intensive blood pressure control was not good. Furthermore, the majority of hypertension guidelines including those of the Korean Society of Hypertension and the European Society of Hypertension have retained the traditional definition. Herein, we intend to analyze in detail the effect of intensive blood pressure control on kidney through the post-hoc analyses of the SPRINT study.
Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Kidney ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Mortality ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic

The prevalence of heart failure (HF) is on the rise due to the aging of society. Furthermore, the continuous progress and widespread adoption of screening and diagnostic strategies have led to an increase in the detection rate of HF, effectively increasing the number of patients requiring monitoring and treatment. Because HF is associated with substantial rates of mortality and morbidity, as well as high socioeconomic burden, there is an increasing need for developing specific guidelines for HF management. The Korean guidelines for the diagnosis and management of chronic heart failure (CHF) were introduced in March 2016. However, CHF and acute heart failure (AHF) represent distinct disease entities. Here, we introduce the Korean guidelines for the management of AHF with reduced or preserved ejection fraction. Part III of this guideline covers management strategies optimized according to the etiology of AHF and the presence of co-morbidities.
Aging ; Comorbidity ; Diagnosis ; Heart Failure ; Heart ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Mortality ; Prevalence

The prevalence of heart failure (HF) is on the rise due to the aging of society. Furthermore, the continuous progress and widespread adoption of screening and diagnostic strategies have led to an increase in the detection rate of HF, effectively increasing the number of patients requiring monitoring and treatment. Because HF is associated with substantial rates of mortality and morbidity, as well as high socioeconomic burden, there is an increasing need for developing specific guidelines for HF management. The Korean guidelines for the diagnosis and management of chronic HF were introduced in March 2016. However, chronic and acute HF represent distinct disease entities. Here, we introduce the Korean guidelines for the management of acute HF with reduced or preserved ejection fraction. Part II of this guideline covers the treatment of acute HF.
Aging ; Diagnosis ; Heart Failure ; Heart ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Mortality ; Prevalence

The prevalence of heart failure (HF) is rapidly increasing throughout the world, and is closely associated with serious morbidity and mortality. In particular, acute HF is one of the main causes of hospitalization and mortality, especially in elderly individuals. In Korea, the socioeconomic burden of HF is substantial. Because of this, the Korean HF society developed chronic and acute HF management guidelines in 2017, adapted process while including as much data from Korean studies as possible. The scope of the current review, which is based on the Korean HF guidelines, includes the definition, diagnosis, and treatment of acute HF with reduced or preserved ejection fractions of various etiologies.
Aged ; Diagnosis ; Heart Failure ; Heart ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Korea ; Medication Therapy Management ; Mortality ; Prevalence

PURPOSE: Readmission and mortality rates of patients with heart failure are good indicators of care quality. To determine whether hospital resources are associated with care quality for cardiac patients, we analyzed the effect of number of physicians and the combined effects of number of physicians and beds on 30-day readmission and 1-year mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used national cohort sample data of the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) claims in 2002–2013. Subjects comprised 2345 inpatients (age: >65 years) admitted to acute-care hospitals for heart failure. A multivariate Cox regression was used. RESULTS: Of the 2345 patients hospitalized with heart failure, 812 inpatients (34.6%) were readmitted within 30 days and 190 (8.1%) had died within a year. Heart-failure patients treated at hospitals with low physician volumes had higher readmission and mortality rates than high physician volumes [30-day readmission: hazard ratio (HR)=1.291, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.020–1.633; 1-year mortality: HR=2.168, 95% CI=1.415–3.321]. Patients admitted to hospitals with low or middle bed and physician volume had higher 30-day readmission and 1-year mortality rates than those admitted to hospitals with high volume (30-day readmission: HR=2.812, 95% CI=1.561–5.066 for middle-volume beds & low-volume physicians, 1-year mortality: HR=8.638, 95% CI=2.072–36.02 for middle-volume beds & low-volume physicians). CONCLUSION: Physician volume is related to lower readmission and mortality for heart failure. Of interest, 30-day readmission and 1-year mortality were significantly associated with the combined effects of physician and institution bed volume.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Heart Failure/diagnosis/*mortality/therapy ; Hospitalization ; *Hospitals, High-Volume/statistics & numerical data ; *Hospitals, Low-Volume/statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patient Readmission/*statistics & numerical data ; Physicians/economics/*supply & distribution ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Quality Improvement ; Quality Indicators, Health Care/*statistics & numerical data ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

Acute heart failure is a common complication of chronic heart failure and is associated with a high risk for subsequent mortality and morbidity. In 90% of case acute heart failure is the resultant of congestion, a manifestation of fluid build-up due to increased filling pressures. As residual congestion at discharge following an acute heart failure episodes is one of the strongest predictors of poor outcome, the goal of therapy should be to resolve congestion completely. Important to comprehend is that increased cardiovascular filling pressures are not solely the resultant of intravascular volume excess but can also be induced by a decreased venous capacitance. This review article focusses on the pathophysiology, diagnoses, and treatment of congestion in acute heart failure. A clear distinction is made between states of volume overload (intravascular volume excess) or volume redistribution (decreased venous capacitance) contributing to congestion in acute heart failure.
Diagnosis ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)* ; Heart Failure* ; Heart* ; Mortality

The prevalence of heart failure (HF) is skyrocketing worldwide, and is closely associated with serious morbidity and mortality. In particular, HF is one of the main causes for the hospitalization and mortality in elderly individuals. Korea also has these epidemiological problems, and HF is responsible for huge socioeconomic burden. However, there has been no clinical guideline for HF management in Korea. 
The present guideline provides the first set of practical guidelines for the management of HF in Korea and was developed using the guideline adaptation process while including as many data from Korean studies as possible. The scope of the present guideline includes the definition, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic HF with reduced/preserved ejection fraction of various etiologies.
Aged ; Diagnosis* ; Heart Failure* ; Heart* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Korea ; Mortality ; Prevalence

PURPOSE: Infantile Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a rare congenital inheritable connective tissue disorder with poor prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate the cardiovascular manifestations and overall prognosis of infantile MFS diagnosed in a tertiary referral center in Korea. METHODS: Eight patients diagnosed with infantile MFS between 2004 and 2014 were retrospectively evaluated. RESULTS: Their median age at the time of diagnosis was 2.5 months (range, 0-20 months). The median follow-up period was 25.5 months (range, 0-94 months). The median length at birth was 50.0 cm (range, 48-53 cm); however, height became more prominent over time, and the patients were taller than the 97th percentile at the time of the study. None of the patients had any relevant family history. Four of the 5 patients who underwent DNA sequencing had a fibrillin 1 gene mutation. All the patients with echocardiographic data of the aortic root had a z score of >2. All had mitral and tricuspid valve prolapse, and various degrees of mitral and tricuspid regurgitation. Five patients underwent open-heart surgery, including mitral valve replacement, of whom two required multiple operations. The median age at mitral valve replacement was 28.5 months (range, 5-69 months). Seven patients showed congestive heart failure before surgery or during follow-up, and required multiple anti-heart failure medications. Four patients died of heart failure at a median age of 12 months. CONCLUSION: The prognosis of infantile MFS is poor; thus, early diagnosis and timely cautious treatment are essential to prevent further morbidity and mortality.
Connective Tissue ; Diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Echocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Marfan Syndrome* ; Mitral Valve ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Mortality ; Parturition ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tertiary Care Centers* ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency ; Tricuspid Valve Prolapse