| Summary: | The need for this guideline was identified as the NICE guidelines on chronic heart failure were being updated. We recognised at this time that there were important aspects of the diagnosis and management of acute heart failure that were not being addressed by the chronic heart failure guideline, which focussed on long term management rather than the immediate care of someone who is acutely unwell as a result of heart failure. The aim of this guideline is to provide guidance to the NHS on the diagnosis and management of acute heart failure. Heart failure is a condition in which the heart does not pump enough blood to meet all the needs of the body. It is caused by heart muscle damage or dysfunction, valve problems, heart rhythm disturbances and other rarer causes. Acute heart failure can present as new-onset heart failure in people without known cardiac dysfunction, or as acute decompensation of chronic heart failure. Acute heart failure is a common cause of admission to hospital (over 67,000 admissions in England and Wales per year) and is the leading cause of hospital admission in people 65 years or older in the UK. This guideline includes important aspects of the diagnosis and management of acute heart failure that are not addressed by the NICE guideline on chronic heart failure (NICE clinical guideline 108). The guideline on chronic heart failure focused on long-term management rather than the immediate care of someone who is acutely unwell as a result of heart failure. This guideline covers the care of adults (aged 18 years or older) who have a diagnosis of acute heart failure, have possible acute heart failure, or are being investigated for acute heart failure
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