Congestive heart failure treatment of patients who have concomitant disorders

Overview
==ACC/AHA Guidelines- Treatment of Patients who have Concomitant Disorders (DO NOT EDIT) == {{cquote|

Class I
1. All other recommendations should apply to patients with concomitant disorders unless there are specific exceptions. (Level of Evidence: C)

2. Physicians should control systolic and diastolic hypertension and diabetes mellitus in patients with HF in accordance with recommended guidelines. (Level of Evidence: C)

3. Physicians should use nitrates and beta-blockers for the treatment of angina in patients with HF. (Level of Evidence: B)

4. Physicians should recommend coronary revascularization according to recommended guidelines in patients who have both HF and angina. (Level of Evidence: A)

5. Physicians should prescribe anticoagulants in patients with HF who have paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation or a previous thromboembolic event. (Level of Evidence: A)

6. Physicians should control the ventricular response rate in patients with HF and atrial fibrillation with a beta-blocker (or amiodarone, if the beta-blocker is contraindicated or not tolerated). (Level of Evidence: A)

7. Patients with coronary artery disease and HF should be treated in accordance with recommended guidelines for chronic stable angina. (Level of Evidence: C)

8. Physicians should prescribe antiplatelet agents for prevention of MI and death in patients with HF who have underlying coronary artery disease. (Level of Evidence: B)

Class IIa
1. It is reasonable to prescribe digitalis to control the ventricular response rate in patients with HF and atrial fibrillation. (Level of Evidence: A)

2. It is reasonable to prescribe amiodarone to decrease recurrence of atrial arrhythmias and to decrease recurrence of ICD discharge for ventricular arrhythmias. (Level of Evidence: C)

Class IIb
1. The usefulness of current strategies to restore and maintain sinus rhythm in patients with HF and atrial fibrillation is not well established. (Level of Evidence: C)

2. The usefulness of anticoagulation is not well established in patients with HF who do not have atrial fibrillation or a previous thromboembolic event. (Level of Evidence: B)

3. The benefit of enhancing erythropoiesis in patients with HF and anemia is not established. (Level of Evidence: C)

Class III
1. Class I or III antiarrhythmic drugs are not recommended in patients with HF for the prevention of ventricular arrhythmias. (Level of Evidence: A) Class Ia agents include quinidine, procainamide and disopyramide. Class Ib agents include lidocaine, mexiletine, tocainide, and phenytoin. Class Ic agents include encainide, flecainide, moricizine, and propafenone. Class III agents include amiodarone, azimilide, bretylium, clofilium, dofetilide, tedisamil, ibutilide, sematilide, and sotalol.

2. The use of antiarrhythmic medication is not indicated as primary treatment for asymptomatic ventricular arrhythmias or to improve survival in patients with HF. (Level of Evidence: A)}}

Vote on and Suggest Revisions to the Current Guidelines

 * The CHF Living Guidelines: Vote on current recommendations and suggest revisions to the guidelines

Guidelines Resources

 * 2009 focused update: ACCF/AHA Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Heart Failure in Adults: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines: developed in collaboration with the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation


 * The ACC/AHA 2005 Guideline Update for the Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Heart Failure in the Adult