Pathophysiology of Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) affects around 56.2 million people worldwide, particularly in elderly populations. It results from various pathological processes, including ischemic heart disease and cardiomyopathies. HF manifests differently depending on underlying conditions and is considered a systemic syndrome, influenced by comorbidities like chronic kidney disease and diabetes. Traditionally, HF was understood through models like the cardiorenal and hemodynamic frameworks. More recently, the neurohormonal model has gained prominence, emphasizing the detrimental effects of sustained activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. HF is also recognized as a multisystem syndrome that transcends cardiac boundaries, with new insights into inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction. The condition is classified based on left ventricular ejection fraction into HFrEF, HFpEF, and HFmrEF, although this classification has limitations. Understanding HF as a dynamic syndrome is crucial for developing tailored therapeutic strategies, an area further explored through emerging proteomics research.