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Rachel V Thomas

Heart Failure Gets A New Definition: How It Could Improve Prevention, Diagnosis And Treatment

<a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/heart-failure">Heart failure</a> (HF) remains a major global health challenge, affecting more than 64 million adults worldwide.

To improve how the condition is prevented, diagnosed and managed, leading cardiovascular organizations, including the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC), have released the "Second Universal Definition of <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/heart-failure">Heart Failure</a>."

The updated definition addresses changes in disease manifestations, diagnostic strategies and the understanding of heart failure's underlying biology. It also aims to establish a unified framework for clinicians, researchers, health systems and policymakers worldwide.

Published on behalf of the ACC, AHA, European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and World Heart Federation (WHF), in collaboration with the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA), the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the ESC and the Japanese Heart Failure Society (JHFS), the document updates the First Universal Definition of Heart Failure, released in 2021. It has been published simultaneously in Circulation, Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), European Heart Journal and Global Heart.

<h2>What Does The Updated Definition Include?</h2>

The prevalence of heart failure continues to rise due to ageing populations and increasing rates of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

To better address this growing burden, the new framework introduces several important changes.

<ul><li>Universal classification of heart failure causes:</li></ul>The document introduces a standardized classification system for the causes of heart failure, helping clinicians identify underlying conditions while improving reporting across clinical trials and patient registries.

<ul><li>Moving beyond rigid ejection fraction cut-offs:</li></ul>Rather than relying on strict left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) thresholds, the updated definition considers differences based on age, sex and ethnicity. It classifies heart failure into reduced, preserved and improved ejection fraction categories, better reflecting real-world clinical practice.

<ul><li>Greater emphasis on early detection:</li></ul>The framework encourages identifying people at risk or in the earliest stages of heart failure—even before symptoms appear—to support prevention and reduce progression to advanced disease.

<ul><li>Recognition that heart failure is dynamic:</li></ul>The condition is now recognized as one that can improve, go into remission, recover or progress over time, rather than being viewed as a fixed diagnosis.

<ul><li>Attention to social and global factors:</li></ul>The document also highlights how access to healthcare, geography, health policies and social determinants of health influence heart failure risk and patient outcomes.

The revised definition provides a common framework for clinicians, researchers, health systems and policymakers worldwide, helping standardize diagnosis, strengthen research and support more personalized care.

The consensus document will also serve as the foundation for the upcoming American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Heart Failure Guideline, expected to be published in late 2027.

"Heart failure remains a major challenge that continues to grow globally, and inconsistencies in how it is defined have limited progress in research and treatment. This updated definition provides a clearer, more consistent framework to help clinicians identify risk earlier and guide more personalized treatment approaches that can help improve patient outcomes worldwide," said Mary Norine Walsh, co-chair of the consensus document.

"The new framework recognizes that heart failure is not a static condition. By focusing on stages of disease, underlying causes and disease trajectories—including improvement, remission and recovery—we can better tailor care and advance prevention efforts," she added.

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Heart failure (HF) remains a major global health challenge, affecting more than 64 million adults worldwide.To improve how the condition is prevented, diagnosed and managed, leading cardiovascular organizations, including the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC), have released the "Second Universal Definition of Heart Failure."The updated definition addresses changes in disease manifestations, diagnostic strategies and the understanding of heart failure's underlying biology. It also aims to establish a unified framework for clinicians, researchers, health systems and policymakers worldwide.Published on behalf of the ACC, AHA, European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and World Heart Federation (WHF), in collaboration with the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA), the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the ESC and the Japanese Heart Failure Society (JHFS), the document updates the First Universal Definition of Heart Failure, released in 2021. It has been published simultaneously in Circulation, Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), European Heart Journal and Global Heart.What Does The Updated Definition Include?The prevalence of heart failure continues to rise due to ageing populations and increasing rates of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.To better address this growing burden, the new framework introduces several important changes.Universal classification of heart failure causes:The document introduces a standardized classification system for the causes of heart failure, helping clinicians identify underlying conditions while improving reporting across clinical trials and patient registries.Moving beyond rigid ejection fraction cut-offs:Rather than relying on strict left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) thresholds, the updated definition considers differences based on age, sex and ethnicity. It classifies heart failure into reduced, preserved and improved ejection fraction categories, better reflecting real-world clinical practice.Greater emphasis on early detection:The framework encourages identifying people at risk or in the earliest stages of heart failure—even before symptoms appear—to support prevention and reduce progression to advanced disease.Recognition that heart failure is dynamic:The condition is now recognized as one that can improve, go into remission, recover or progress over time, rather than being viewed as a fixed diagnosis.Attention to social and global factors:The document also highlights how access to healthcare, geography, health policies and social determinants of health influence heart failure risk and patient outcomes.Why The New Definition MattersThe revised definition provides a common framework for clinicians, researchers, health systems and policymakers worldwide, helping standardize diagnosis, strengthen research and support more personalized care.The consensus document will also serve as the foundation for the upcoming American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Heart Failure Guideline, expected to be published in late 2027."Heart failure remains a major challenge that continues to grow globally, and inconsistencies in how it is defined have limited progress in research and treatment. This updated definition provides a clearer, more consistent framework to help clinicians identify risk earlier and guide more personalized treatment approaches that can help improve patient outcomes worldwide," said Mary Norine Walsh, co-chair of the consensus document."The new framework recognizes that heart failure is not a static condition. By focusing on stages of disease, underlying causes and disease trajectories—including improvement, remission and recovery—we can better tailor care and advance prevention efforts," she added.

heart failure gets a new definition: how it could improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment

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