Korean Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Heart Failure

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Chronic heart failure; Guideline.

Figure 1

Algorithm for the diagnosis of HF. BNP = B-type natriuretic peptide; ECG = electrocardiogram; HF = heart failure; NT-proBNP = N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide.

Figure 2

Indications for CRT. CRT = cardiac resynchronization therapy; LBBB = left bundle branch block; LVAD = left ventricular assist device; LVEF = left ventricular ejection fraction; NYHA = New York Heart Association.