Preventing heart failure: a position paper of the Heart Failure Association in collaboration with the European Association of Preventive Cardiology
Massimo Piepoli, Marianna Adamo, Andrea Barison, Reinaldo B. Bestetti, Jan Biegus, Michael Böhm, Javed Butler, Jonathan R. Carapetis, Claudio Ceconi, Ovidiu Chioncel, Andrew J.S. Coats, María G. Crespo‐Leiro, Giovanni de Simone, Heinz Drexel, Michele Emdin, Dimitros Farmakis, Martin Halle, Stéphane Heymans, Tiny Jaarsma, Ewa A. Jankowska, Mitja Lainščak, Carolyn S.P. Lam, Maja‐Lisa Løchen, Yu. M. Lopatin, Aldo P. Maggioni, Benedetta Matrone, Marco Metra, Katharine Noonan, Ileana L. Piña, Eva Prescott, Giuseppe Rosano, Petar Seferović, Karen Sliwa, Simon Stewart, Alicia Uijl, Ilonca Vaartjes, Roel Vermeulen, W. M. Monique Verschuren, Maurizio Volterrani, Stephan von Haehling, Arno W. Hoes
Abstract
The heart failure epidemic is growing and its prevention, in order to reduce associated hospital readmission rates and its clinical and economic burden, is a key issue in modern cardiovascular medicine. The present position paper aims to provide practical evidence-based information to support the implementation of effective preventive measures. After reviewing the most common risk factors, an overview of the population attributable risks in different continents is presented, to identify potentially effective opportunities for prevention and to inform preventive strategies. Finally, potential interventions that have been proposed and have been shown to be effective in preventing heart failure are listed.