Photo Credit: Mohammed Haneefa Nizamudeen
The following is a summary of “Unmasking High-Output Heart Failure: Beyond Conventional Paradigms,” published in the January 2025 issue of Cardiology by Shafi et al.
Researchers conducted a retrospective study to provide a comprehensive analysis of high-output heart failure (HOHF), including its definition, etiopathology, and underlying mechanisms, and to propose a new diagnostic algorithm for this often-misdiagnosed condition.
They reviewed the literature on HOHF, focusing on its features and differentiation from other heart failure (HF) types. The study examined HOHF’s pathophysiology and diagnostic challenges.
The results showed HOHF defined by cardiac output exceeding 8 L/min or a cardiac index >4 L/min/m2. It shares similarities with heart failure in terms of reduced or preserved ejection fraction but has distinct mechanisms. The condition stems from decreased systemic vascular resistance, which leads to increased cardiac output, left ventricular remodeling, and heart failure and pointed out the limited awareness and understanding of HOHF among clinicians.
Investigators concluded the HOHF as an under-recognized condition, and a deeper understanding of its pathophysiology, with a tailored diagnostic algorithm, could improve its recognition and management, helping to prevent complications from incorrect treatment.
