Team Management of Patients With Heart Failure
Team Management of Patients With Heart Failure A Statement for Healthcare Professionals From the Cardiovascular Nursing Council of the American Heart Association Kathleen L. Grady, PhD, RN; Kathleen Dracup, DNSc, RN; Gemma Kennedy, PhD, RN; Debra K. Moser, DNSc, RN; Mariann Piano, PhD, RN; Lynne Warner Stevenson, MD; James B. Young, MD Key Words: AHA Scientific Statement • heart failure • prevention Heart failure is estimated to affect 4 to 5 million Americans, with 550 000 new cases reported annually.1 In the past 3 decades, both the incidence and prevalence of heart failure have increased.1 2 3 Factors that have contributed to this increase are the aging US population and improved survival rates in patients with cardiovascular disease due to advancements in diagnostic techniques and medical and surgical therapies.2 4 5 6 Heart failure is a chronic, progressive disease that is characterized by frequent hospital admissions and ultimately high mortality rates. Because of its high medica...