Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure in Adults in the United States

Author: Yan Hongbing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-10-01
Features: This guide is a major revision of the 2001 edition, providing a comprehensive reflection of the current state of heart failure diagnosis and treatment in the United States. It particularly introduces new technologies, methods, and medications for diagnosing and treating heart failure. The American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Heart Failure in Adults (2005 Update) is compiled based on the Report of the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Task Force on Practice Guidelines: Adult Heart Failure Guideline—2005 Update. This practical guideline aims to assist healthcare professionals in making clinical decisions by introducing widely accepted methods for diagnosing, treating, or preventing specific diseases. The guideline attempts to identify practices that meet the needs of most patients in most situations. The recommendations in this guideline reflect the consensus of experts after reviewing current scientific evidence, with the goal of improving the quality of patient care. If this guideline is used as the basis for regulations and reimbursement, the ultimate goal is to improve the quality of healthcare and maximize the interests of patients. The final judgment regarding a patient's medical care must be made by the physician and the patient after considering the specific circumstances.