INFECTIOUS COMPLICATIONS IN HEART FAILURE

Abstract

Heart failure (HF) is a major health problem affecting millions of people worldwide. It is responsible for a significant number of hospitalizations and deaths annually. The impact on patients' quality of life and the burdened course of multiple complications contribute to the global burden of disease. For a correct management of the patient with HF, we must start from a rigorously established diagnosis that meets all the elements according to the European guidelines in force. The diagnosis of HF implies important social, family and medico-legal implications. The current drug treatment of HF is based on a number of known therapeutic classes to which two classes have been added in recent years that have revolutionized the management of these patients. I refer to neprilysin inhibitors and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2i) inhibitors. The presence of IC represents a fertile ground for the grafting of seasonal community infections, tuberculosis that should not be omitted in the diagnostic strategy, as well as HIV infection generating multiple cardiovascular and systemic complications. We also add the risk of infection with the SARS-COV 2 virus, which not only generates viral pneumonia but can affect the entire cardiovascular system. In this context, the key to therapeutic management in HF is the correct, rapid, multidisciplinary assessment of the patient, the customization of the strategy in relation to the complications that have occurred and in accordance with the recommendations of the updated guidelines.

Keywords: heart failure, infection, inhibitors.