ABSTRACT
Each patient with heart failure presents a unique picture based on the etiology and time course of his cardiac disease, concomitant conditions, psychosocial factors, circulatory adaptations, and responses to therapy, all seen in the context of personal priorities for physical and social functioning and life goals. Recognizing that none of these pictures can be portrayed fully by categories, we nonetheless fi nd classifi cation schemes useful to describe clinical situations, to predict likely outcomes, and to target and titrate therapies with proven benefi t. Aligned with the broader spectrum of disease progression, the classifi cation schemes for patients with symptomatic disease include specifi c clinical assessments of symptoms and signs, and longitudinal integration of the clinical picture. In addition, the defi nition of profi les can enhance recognition of patients not well addressed by current therapies, which will inspire the development of new strategies.
