New resource for patients with Chronic Heart Failure
New information to help sufferers of Chronic Heart Failure (CHF) is now available for cardiologists, GPs, practice nurses and allied health professionals.
The Medical Journal of Australia has published an article on its website providing
information on updates to the prevention, detection and management of chronic heart
failure in Australia. The article is authored by the National Heart Foundation of
Australia and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand.
Chronic heart failure is an ongoing condition in which the heart muscle is weakened
and cant pump as well as it normally does.
While it can be life-threatening, the symptoms can be controlled and patients can live
a longer, healthier life by taking charge of the condition and working in partnership
with your healthcare team.
Common symptoms of chronic heart failure include shortness of breath, tiredness,
weight gain and swelling of the ankles and/or belly.
CHF accounted more than 2,700 Australian deaths in 2008.
The article provides new information on the National Heart Foundation of
Australia/Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand Guidelines for the prevention,
detection and management of chronic heart failure in Australia, 2006.
The new material complements the Heart Failure multidisciplinary care resource
released in August 2010 and the forthcoming adaptation to the Living well with Heart
Failure consumer resource for Aboriginal people.
The team of experts responsible for the 2006 guidelines agreed that sufficient new
evidence had emerged since 2008 to warrant an update to the National Heart
Foundation of Australia/Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand Guidelines for
the prevention, detection and management of chronic heart failure in Australia, 2006.
The update reflects new evidence in the following areas:
Use of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) including plasma-BNP or N-terminal pro-
BNP measurement in guiding treatment of chronic heart failure
Physical activity and rehabilitation
Pharmaco-therapy
Use of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs) in treatment of systolic heart failure
Use of devices - biventricular pacing and left ventricular assist devices
Treatment of cardiac arrhythmias in patients with chronic heart failure
Multi-disciplinary care and post-discharge management programs.
The updated information will be incorporated into the 2006 guideline and an on-line
integrated version will be released on the National Heart Foundation website in May
2011.
National CEO of the Heart Foundation, Dr Lyn Roberts thanked the Executive Writing
Group which prepared the update including Prof. Henry Krum (Chair), A/Prof. Michael
Jelinek, Prof. Simon Stewart, Prof. Andrew Sindone, A/Prof. John Atherton and the
Heart Foundation Clinical Programs team.
Chief Medical Adviser, Professor James Tatoulis, said the guidelines would ensure
health professionals had access to the most up to date research to help guide the
best treatment for the 300,000 Australians who currently suffer from heart failure.