Why is heart failure difficult to diagnose?
Heart failure patients frequently represent diagnostic challenges to physicians because shortness of breath, a key symptom of heart failure, may be a non-specific finding in many elderly or obese patients. Clinicians need to differentiate patients with heart failure from other diseases, such as pulmonary disease. A patient’s past history is helpful, but only 81% accurate; chest x-rays are also helpful, but only 75% accurate. Lab tests are good tools; however, studies indicate results are negatively deflated in obese patients, inflated in patients with chronic renal function and only have clinical utility at specific levels. AUDICOR® identifies the third heart sound, which studies confirm is a highly specific marker for ventricular dysfunction.
