classes of heart failure
The stages of heart failure is a rating system to evaluate the development and progression of heart failure symptoms. Developed by the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology in 2001, the system includes four stages.
- Stages A and B represent people who have not yet developed heart failure but are at high risk because of coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, diabetes or other predisposing conditions.
- Stage C includes patients with past or current symptoms of heart failure who have a condition called structural heart disease.
- Stage D includes patients who have advanced heart failure that is difficult to manage with standard treatment.
