Epidemiology and management of heart failure and left ventricular systolic dysfunction in the aftermath of a myocardial infarction

J G F Cleland, A Torabi, N K Khan

Department of Academic Cardiology, University of Hull

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Professor John Cleland
Department of Academic Cardiology, Castle Hill Hospital, Castle Road, Cottingham, Kingston upon Hull HU16 5JQ, UK; j.g.cleland{at}hull.ac.uk

Robust epidemiological data on the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) are hard to find, but synthesis of data from a number of sources indicates that the average hospital in the UK should admit about two patients with a first MI and one recurrent MI per 1000 population per year. Possibly the most relevant data on the incidence, prevalence, and persistence of post-MI heart failure can be derived from the TRACE study. Most patients will develop heart failure or major left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) at some time after an MI, most commonly during the index admission. In up to 20% of cases this will be transient, but such patients still have a poor prognosis. There is likely to be around one patient discharged per thousand population per year with heart failure or major LVSD after an acute MI. It is important to organise care structures to ensure that patients with post-MI heart failure and LVSD are identified and managed appropriately.

Abbreviations: ACE, angiotensin converting enzyme; LVSD, left ventricular systolic dysfunction; MI, myocardial infarction; MINAP, Myocardial Infarction National Audit Project; NT-proBNP, N terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide; TRACE, trandolapril cardiac evaluation

Keywords: heart failure; left ventricular systolic dysfunction; myocardial infarction

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Gandjour, A. (2009). Cost-effectiveness of cardioverter-defibrillators in heart failure patients. Europace 11: 1721-1721 [Full Text]  
• Albert, N. M., Lewis, C. (2008). Recognizing and Managing Asymptomatic Left Ventricular Dysfunction: After Myocardial Infarction. Crit Care Nurse 28: 20-37 [Full Text]  
• Torabi, A., Cleland, J. G.F., Khan, N. K., Loh, P. H., Clark, A. L., Alamgir, F., Caplin, J. L., Rigby, A. S., Goode, K. (2008). The timing of development and subsequent clinical course of heart failure after a myocardial infarction. Eur Heart J 29: 859-870 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• (2008). {blacktriangledown}Eplerenone after myocardial infarction?. DTB 46: 1-3 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Kirkpatrick, J. N., Vannan, M. A., Narula, J., Lang, R. M. (2007). Echocardiography in Heart Failure: Applications, Utility, and New Horizons. J Am Coll Cardiol 50: 381-396 [Abstract] [Full Text]