Approximately 4.8 million Americans have heart failure with about 550,000 new cases being diagnosed each year. Clinical scenarios and descriptions of heart failure date as far back as ancient Egypt. The cardiac glosses of the Ebers papyrus comprised the concepts and notions of the Egyptian physicians about the heart and its diseases.
Throughout the ages, the suffering associated with heart failure has been documented and described. In the modern era, survival after heart failure diagnosis has greatly improved over the past 50 years.
Cases of heart failure have dropped by about a third for women during the same period but the number of new cases for men remain unchanged. The availability of drugs and other treatments for heart failure is the key reason survival has improved dramatically.
The History of Heart Failure Project is designed to enhance understanding of this chronic disease by medical professionals so they may develop a greater appreciation for modern advances--or as succinctly put by Sir Winston Churchill “the longer you look back, the further you can look forward.” The Founders/Advisory Board hope that through their medical expertise and passion for historical perspectives, they have provided unique educational tools which will improve the care for all patients with heart failure.