Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle is weak and has trouble pumping blood through the body. When this happens, fluid collects in the lungs or other parts of the body. The fluid can cause congestion, making it difficult to breath. People with heart failure may also have swelling in the hands, legs, feet and abdomen. Heart failure affects about 5 million people in the United States and is the leading cause for hospital admissions for people age 65 and older. More than 550,000 people are newly diagnosed with heart failure each year. 20 to 30 percent of patients diagnosed with heart failure die within the first year and 66 percent die within five years. The estimated cost of heart failure care in the U.S. for 2005 is $27.9 billion.*

Quick Links

• Discharge Instructions
• Smoking Cessation Advice and Counseling
• Left Ventricular (LV) Function Assessment
• ACEI or ARB for Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction (LVSD)

Educating heart failure patients and their families is an important aspect of care. A written list of instructions and medications can help patients take control of their care. Following the treatment plan can help patients feel better, prevent heart failure from getting worse, and help them live longer. This chart represents the percentage of hospitalized heart failure patients who received written instructions on activity, diet, follow-up care, medications, symptoms and weight monitoring. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): Hospitals in the top 10 percent in the nation achieve this 89 percent of the time.

Heart Failure Discharge Instructions

More than 430,000 Americans die each year from smoking. Smoking causes illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, problems with pregnancy and lung disease. This chart illustrates the percentage of hospitalized heart failure patients who received advice on quitting smoking. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): Hospitals in the top 10 percent in the nation achieve this 100 percent of the time.

Heart Failure Smoking Cessation Advice and Counseling

Left ventricular function assessment is the single most important diagnostic test for patients with heart failure. This information helps the health care team make decisions on treatment and choice of medications. This chart shows the percentage of hospitalized heart failure patients who had documentation of left ventricular function. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): Hospitals in the top 10 percent in the nation achieve this 100 percent of the time.

Heart Failure Left Ventricular (LV) Function Assessment

Research has shown that treatment with these medications can help people live longer and decrease hospitalizations. They can also decrease the symptoms of heart failure and increase the ability to be more active. This chart represents the number of hospitalized heart failure patients who were discharged on one of these medications. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): Hospitals in the top 10 percent in the nation achieve this 98 percent of the time.

Heart Failure ACEI or ARB for Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction (LVSD)