ABSTRACT
In the heart failure patient population, cardiac arrhythmias frequently contribute to worsened symptoms, periodic decompensations, and increased mortality in the form of sudden death. Arrhythmia recognition and management is an important aspect of caring for these patients. Chronic heart failure predisposes to both supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias. The etiologic diversity of patients with heart failure impacts on the incidence of arrhythmias and on diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Arrhythmia prevention and management plans, taking into account the potential benefi ts and risks of implantable defi brillators, left ventricular pacing for cardiac resynchronization therapy, antiarrhythmic drugs, and ablation, often require careful integration with heart failure management.
