Disease Etiology

Definition and Epidemiology
Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome that occurs when the heart is unable to fill or eject an adequate amount of blood to meet the metabolic demands of the body. Heart failure can result from impaired contraction (systolic dysfunction) or relaxation (diastolic dysfunction) of the heart muscle. Heart failure is a clinical diagnosis; therefore it is based on the presence of symptoms, which include shortness of breath, impaired exercise