Interaction of heart failure and stroke: A clinical consensus statement of the ESC Council on Stroke, the Heart Failure Association (HFA) and the ESC Working Group on Thrombosis

Abstract

Heart failure (HF) is a major disease in our society that often presents with multiple comorbidities with mutual interaction and aggravation. The comorbidity of HF and stroke is a high risk condition that requires particular attention to ensure early detection of complications, efficient diagnostic workup, close monitoring, and consequent treatment of the patient. The bi‐directional interaction between the heart and the brain is inherent in the pathophysiology of HF where HF may be causal for acute cerebral injury, and ‐ in turn ‐ acute cerebral injury via imbalanced neural and neurovegetative control of cardiovascular regulation may induce or aggravate HF.The present document represents the consensus view of the ESC Council on Stroke, the Heart Failure Association and the ESC Working Group on Thrombosis to summarize current insights on pathophysiologic interactions of the heart and the brain in the comorbidity of HF and stroke. Principal aspects of diagnostic workup, pathophysiologic mechanisms, complications clinical management in acute conditions and in long‐term care of patients with the comorbidity are presented and state of the art clinical management and current evidence from clinical trials is discussed. Beside the physicians perspective, also the patients values and preferences are taken into account.Interdisciplinary cooperation of cardiologists, stroke specialists, other specialists and primary care physicians is pivotal to ensure optimal treatment in acute events and in continued long‐term treatment of these patients. Key consensus statements are presented in a concise overview on mechanistic insights, diagnostic workup, prevention and treatment to inform clinical acute and continued care of patients with the comorbidity of heart failure and stroke.

December 2023 at a glance: Focus on medical therapy in chronic and acute heart failure

“…The ESC Council on Stroke, the Heart Failure Association and the ESC Working Group on Thrombosis have published a consensus statement describing the interplay between heart failure (HF) and stroke, focusing on prevention, pathophysiology and patient's management. 1 Qiliqiangxin is a commercial formulation of 11 different plant ingredients. In the QUEST trial, qiliqiangxin reduced the risk of cardiovascular (CV) death or HF hospitalization in patients with a background HF therapy.…”

“…The ESC Council on Stroke, the Heart Failure Association and the ESC Working Group on Thrombosis have published a consensus statement describing the interplay between heart failure (HF) and stroke, focusing on prevention, pathophysiology and patient's management 1 …”