About heart failure

Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome caused by structural and/or functional cardiac abnormalities, leading to reduced cardiac output and/or elevated intracardiac pressures at rest or under stress. It is characterized by typical symptoms such as dyspnea, ankle swelling, and fatigue, which may be accompanied by signs such as elevated jugular venous pressure, pulmonary crackles and peripheral edema.¹

HF affects a large and growing population worldwide. It is estimated that over 26 million people globally are living with HF,² including 13.7 million in China³ and more than 6.2 million in the United States.⁴ The disease often follows a progressive course that is difficult to reverse with currently available pharmacologic treatments or conventional medical devices, and its prognosis is comparable to or worse than that of many malignant cancers.Heart transplantation remains the standard of care for patients with advanced HF. However, the extreme shortage of donor hearts significantly limits its accessibility.

Ventricular Assist Devices (VADs), as part of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) therapy, have emerged as a key treatment option for patients with advanced HF. In developed countries, VADs have become widely accepted and are now included in clinical guidelines as an effective therapy for refractory HF. This novel, accessible therapy offers a realistic means of significantly extending survival and improving quality of life for patients with advanced HF.