ABSTRACT
Heart failure is a health care problem of enormous importance in the United States. As the
leading cause of elderly hospitalizations, congestive heart failure (CHF) claims over
40,000 deaths per year and contributes to an additional 250,000. More than five million
Americans are affected. An estimated half a million more individuals will be diagnosed
with CHF every year (1). Currently, the only definitive treatment modality for CHF is
cardiac transplantation. Though an effective option, the w2000 heart transplants performed annually have essentially no significant epidemiological impact (2). With
better treatment strategies continually evolving for coronary, valvular, and congenital
heart disease, improved patient survival ultimately will translate into a gradual progression
over time to cardiac failure in several of these patients. Myocardial function is at first
compromised but compensated. Once hearts can no longer compensate, however, patients
develop CHF. In pure economic terms, CHF costs the nation an estimated $10 to $50
billion annually. Clearly, more therapeutic options are needed.
