Regardless of etiology, many chronic cardiac disease have a common end-point of right, left, or biventricular heart failure (HF). According to Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) data, in 2010, 57,757 deaths were caused by HF in the United States, making cardiac disease or heart failure (HF) was listed as the most common cause of death in the United States.
Death is often sudden. Some people with advanced coronary disease die quickly and without warning from arrhythmias. However, many live for prolonged periods of time with HF managed by medical and surgical interventions. Yet, reversal of HF is rare, unless a surgical intervention is available. It is therefore difficult to predict the end of life.
The disease course can be one of chronic illness with a long period of general decline in function, interspersed with exacerbation and partial recovery. The degree of HF is not clearly correlated with life expectancy or symptoms; because of those with very poor ventricular function can live with only minimal symptoms, whereas others with similar ventricular function can be very symptomatic.
The patient who is dying of advanced heart failure are those who are no longer respond to drug therapy, not a candidate for further invasive procedures, and present with significant symptoms due to the underlying pathophysiology.
End stage disease progression of cardiac disorders often includes:
