Current conservative therapy for chronic heart failure

Systolic heart failure and heart failure with preserved systolic function occur with similar prevalence rates in primary care. Nowadays we are equipped with drugs which effectively counteract the pathophysiological dysregulations in systolic heart failure and have resulted in significant reductions of morbidity and mortality. In recent years device therapy with implantable defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization devices has further supplemented and improved therapy. Due to the lack of dedicated randomized, controlled studies therapy of heart failure with preserved systolic function is mainly based on pathophysiological assumptions and targeted to symptom relief. Based on recent heart failure guidelines and latest studies this report gives an overview of the current recommendations for conservative treatment of both types of chronic heart failure.