Women & Heart Failure

Slightly more women develop heart failure than men do, but many more women than men die of the condition. Women have a better survival rate than men when heart failure is caused by valvular heart disease, high blood pressure, or alcohol abuse. The survival rates of women and men are more similar, however, when heart failure evolves from coronary artery disease or heart attack. In fact, women are much more likely to develop heart failure after a heart attack than men.

Diagnosing & Treating Heart Failure

Using an integrated and collaborative approach, heart failure is diagnosed, staged, and treated with a wide array of comprehensive therapies and treatments ranging from carefully chosen medications, to ventricular assist devices and complex heart surgery including heart transplantation.

Heart failure is a debilitating and often lethal disease that requires comprehensive management including carefully chosen medications, prudent surgical intervention, and cardiac rehabilitation. The Center for Heart Failure's outstanding multidisciplinary team uses a systematic approach to manage patients with heart failure.

Clinical Trials for Heart Failure

The Center for Heart Failure is also currently conducting clinical research trials to test the latest devices and drugs related to heart failure and to identify genetic risk factors that may be responsible for heart failure and sudden cardiac death. These ongoing clinical research trials help to ensure that our patients continue to receive the most innovative care for heart failure in the country.

Contact

For more information regarding heart failure, please contact the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at 1-866-662-8467 or request a first time appointment online.

For more information regarding clinical trials related to heart failure, please view the Clinical Trials Unit of Northwestern page, send an email or call 312-926-4000.