Scientists from leading heart organizations around the world have released an updated guide that changes how doctors identify, classify, and manage heart failure.
The new expert consensus, called the Second Universal Definition of Heart Failure, was published simultaneously in Circulation, JACC, the European Heart Journal, and Global Heart.
It was developed by experts from organizations including the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, the European Society of Cardiology, and the World Heart Federation.
Heart failure affects more than 64 million adults worldwide and is becoming increasingly common.
The condition does not mean the heart has stopped working. Instead, it means the heart can no longer pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs.
This can cause tiredness, shortness of breath, swollen legs, and reduced ability to exercise.
As populations age and conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure become more common, the number of people living with heart failure continues to rise.
The first universal definition was introduced in 2021 to create a common language for doctors and researchers. The new version expands that work and places much greater emphasis on preventing heart failure before symptoms appear.
One of the biggest changes is a new worldwide system for classifying the causes of heart failure. Instead of focusing mainly on treating the condition after it develops, doctors are encouraged to identify the underlying cause so treatment can be better tailored to each patient.
The experts also recommend moving away from relying only on one heart measurement called left ventricular ejection fraction.
Rather than using strict numerical cut-offs, the updated framework recognizes that normal values can differ according to age, sex, and ethnicity.
Doctors are encouraged to use broader clinical categories such as reduced, preserved, or improved ejection fraction together with the patient’s overall condition.
Another major message is that heart failure is not a fixed disease. Some patients improve with treatment, some enter remission, while others experience worsening disease. This means regular follow-up and personalized care are essential.
The document also highlights that social factors matter. Access to healthcare, economic conditions, geography, and local health policies all influence who develops heart failure and how well patients recover.
The authors hope these recommendations will improve research, make clinical trials easier to compare, and help doctors provide more consistent care worldwide. The document will also serve as the scientific foundation for new American heart failure treatment guidelines expected in 2027.
Overall, this update represents an important shift toward earlier diagnosis and more personalized treatment. Although it is an expert consensus rather than a clinical trial, it brings together the best available evidence from international specialists.
Its greatest strength is the focus on prevention and recognizing that heart failure changes over time. Future studies will determine how well these recommendations improve patient outcomes in everyday medical practice.
If you care about heart health, please read studies that vitamin K helps cut heart disease risk by a third, and a year of exercise reversed worrisome heart failure.
For more health information, please see recent studies about supplements that could help prevent heart disease, stroke, and results showing this food ingredient may strongly increase heart disease death risk.
Source: American Heart Association.
