Understanding Heart Failure
Nearly 1 million cases of heart failure are diagnosed annually1
Heart failure is a chronic condition in which the heart can’t pump blood efficiently enough to meet the body's needs. Ejection Fraction (EF), which is the measurement of how efficiently the heart is pumping blood out to the body, is key in determining heart failure.
There are two types of heart failure:
Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF):
Occurs when the heart's ability to pump is reduced, usually due to a weakened or damaged heart muscle.
Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF):
The heart may be pumping normally, but the heart muscle is stiff and cannot relax properly to fill with blood between beats.
Conditions that can cause heart failure
Heart failure can result from a variety of underlying conditions that weaken or damage the heart muscle. These include:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD)
- Heart attack
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Cardiomyopathy
- Valvular heart disease
- Congenital heart defects
Know the signs and symptoms of heart failure
- Shortness of breath, especially during physical activity or when lying flat
- Fatigue and weakness
- Swelling in the legs, ankles, feet, or abdomen (edema)
- Persistent coughing or wheezing
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Reduced ability to exercise
- Sudden weight gain or weight loss
How is heart failure diagnosed?
When diagnosing heart failure, your physician will take into consideration your medical history, physical examination, family history of heart conditions, and diagnostic test results. Testing could include an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), stress test, coronary angiography, cardiac CT scan, or an echocardiogram.
A range of treatment options
Your physician may recommend a variety of treatment options depending on the severity of your heart failure. The goal is to reduce your risk of complications, improve your overall heart health, and relieve your heart failure-related symptoms, which may include chest pain, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Treatment options may include:
Medications
Including ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, diuretics, and aldosterone antagonists
Lifestyle changes
Such as dietary changes (low-sodium diet), regular exercise, weight management, and stopping smoking
Managing other health conditions
These may include high blood pressure, diabetes, and sleep apnea
Devices
Such as implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) or cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices
Surgery
Such as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or heart valve repair or replacement
Interventional procedures
Including minimally invasive Protected PCI with Impella CP® with SmartAssist®
What is Protected PCI with Impella CP?
Protected PCI, or protected stenting, with Impella CP is a widely accepted procedure in which an Impella CP is used to temporarily assist the pumping function of the heart while the interventional cardiologist performs the prescribed procedure. An Impella CP heart-pump-supported procedure could improve your heart function, reduce heart failure symptoms, and get you back to doing the things you love to do.
More than 330,000* patients have been supported with Impella heart pumps
Possible outcomes of an Impella-supported procedure
Because every heart failure case is different, talking to your doctor is the best way to determine how an Impella CP heart pump may benefit you.
Improved Quality of Life
In a randomized controlled trial, 8-in-10 patients treated with Impella heart pumps experienced reduction in heart failure symptoms or improvement in heart function2
Fewer Days in the Hospital
After the procedure compared to traditional therapy3
Reduction in Death, Heart Attack and Stroke
As compared to other support methods4,6
Fewer Repeat Visits
To the hospital for heart-related issues5
References
- Heart Failure Society of America. (n.d.). Heart failure facts and information. Heart Failure Society of America. Retrieved January 6, 2025, from https://hfsa.org/patient-hub/heart-failure-facts-information#:~:text=Current%20estimates%20are%20that%20nearly,is%20also%20a%20major%20killer.
- O'Neill, W. W., Kar, S., Bittl, J. A., et al. (2012). Percutaneous coronary intervention for patients with chronic total occlusions: An overview of current approaches. American Heart Journal, 126(14), 1596-1605. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.112.098194
- Lansky, A. J., Spertus, J. A., & Weber, J. (2022). Cardiovascular outcomes following transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A review of current evidence. The American Journal of Cardiology, 169, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjcard.2022.08.032
- Abu-Much, S., Danenberg, A., & Blieden, M. (2024). Advancements in heart failure therapies: What the future holds. American Heart Journal, 269, 139-148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2023.12.015
- Wollmuth, J. A., Mitty, B. A., & Shaikh, S. M. (2022). Impact of coronary artery bypass grafting on survival in elderly patients. Journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, 1(5), 100350. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jscai.2022.100350
Zeitouni, N., Goei, A. H., & Lima, J. A. (2022). Mechanisms of coronary artery disease progression: Insights from imaging and biomarkers. Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions, 15(5), e011534. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCINTERVENTIONS.121.011534
*Abiomed. (2024, September 10) Global Patients - Fiscal Year. Retrieved from Salesforce database
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