Arq. Bras. Cardiol. 2019; 113(1): 05-08

Heart Failure Awareness Day: A Tribute to the Genius Carlos Chagas

Evandro Tinoco Mesquita , Aurea Lucia Alves de Azevedo Grippa de Souza , Salvador Rassi

DOI: 10.5935/abc.20190137

The purpose of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology (SBC) is to expand and disseminate knowledge on Cardiovascular Science and to make each cardiologist aware of the activities intended to promote cardiovascular health in Brazilian society. Since its foundation, SBC has been stimulating research and dissemination, among civil society, of epidemiological and preventive matters related to the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure (HF). HF has been identified as a cardiovascular epidemic throughout the world and involves important aspects on morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs, being little recognized among individuals, members of our society, healthcare managers and policy makers. The increasing prevalence of HF is due to population aging and the growth of risk factors, such as obesity, systemic arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus, as well as increased survival of patients with heart diseases, such as congenital heart disease and ischemic heart disease. Worldwide, about 26 million adults have HF and forecasts indicate that the prevalence tends to increase by 25% by 2030.

Within the scenario, it should be underscored that HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) needs greater recognition and prevention strategies by general practitioners, geriatricians and cardiologists. The syndrome presents asymptomatic stages and a symptomatic form, and preventive and therapeutic measures are able to reduce the progression of the disease and morbimortality. Outbreaks of acute HF and decompensation promote recurrence in emergency rooms and hospital admissions that promote worsening of the condition, where the outcome can be abrupt due to pump failure or sudden death. In this decade, initiatives in different countries, led by cardiology associations and societies, have promoted activities to warn the population and health professionals regarding early detection, complementary tests and access to medications and treatment based on scientific evidence.

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