HealthWise KnowledgeBase
Heart Failure Stages
Topic Overview
The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association have devised a classification system for Reference heart failure Opens New Window that categorizes heart failure based on the progression of the disease that occurs in most people. Under this system, heart failure is classified by stages A through D.Reference 1
|
Stage |
Definition |
Examples |
|---|---|---|
| A |
Person is at high risk for developing heart failure but has no structural disorder of the heart. |
Person has Reference high blood pressure Opens New Window, Reference coronary artery disease Opens New Window, Reference diabetes Opens New Window, a history of Reference drug or alcohol abuse Opens New Window, a personal history of Reference rheumatic fever Opens New Window, or a Reference family history Opens New Window of Reference cardiomyopathy. |
| B |
Person has a structural disorder of the heart but has never developed symptoms of heart failure. |
Person has structural changes to the left ventricle, has heart valve disease, or has had a Reference heart attack Opens New Window. |
| C |
Person has past or current symptoms of heart failure associated with underlying structural heart disease. |
Person has shortness of breath or fatigue caused by left ventricular systolic dysfunction or is without symptoms and is receiving treatment for prior symptoms of heart failure. |
| D |
Person has end-stage disease and requires specialized treatment strategies. |
Person is frequently hospitalized for heart failure or cannot be safely discharged from the hospital; person is in the hospital awaiting a heart transplant; person is at home receiving continuous intravenous support for symptom relief or being supported with a mechanical circulatory assistive device; or person is in a Reference hospice Opens New Window setting for the management of heart failure. |
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Reference Terms of Use. Reference How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

