Heart failure Effective care in newly certified treatment center

Certificate for transregional Heart Failure Center in Berlin

The German Heart Center Berlin and the cardiac medicine facilities of the Berlin Charité at the Campus Virchow-Klinikum have been certified as a joint supraregional heart center. The review found that the facilities currently offer the best treatment on the basis of all modern facilities for the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease.

The certificate was awarded by the German Society of Cardiology (DGK) and the German Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery eV (DGTHG). The facilities may now call themselves the "Transregional Heart Failure Center". "We are very pleased about the award as confirmation of years of intensive and interdisciplinary cooperation between the two institutions", explains Professor Dr. med. med. Volkmar Falk, Medical Director of the German Heart Center Berlin and Director of the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery - Cardiac Surgery of the Charité in a press release to the award.

The treatment of heart failure as a top priority is increasingly becoming the focus in the treatment of heart disease. (Image: Sonja Calovini / fotolia.com)

A nationwide heart failure network is emerging

"At the same time, we see the certificate as an incentive for the further expansion of a transregional cardiac insufficiency network," reports Professor Dr. med. med. Burkert Pieske, Director of Cardiology at the National Heart Failure Center.

Heart failure is very common

According to the Berlin doctors, the incidence of heart failure has steadily increased in recent decades. Ironically, this is partly due to improved medical treatment, as more and more people survive heart disease, such as a heart attack, and subsequently develop heart failure. Approximately 1.8 million people currently suffer from chronic heart failure in Germany. Every year there are around 300,000 new cases. Thus, the heart failure is according to the specialists the most common diagnosis in hospital admission and is one of the leading causes of death.

What happens in the body during a heart failure?

When the pumping power of the heart is no longer sufficient to meet the body's need for blood, it is called heart failure. In many cases, the heart muscle no longer has enough power to circulate the blood sufficiently. This can lead to a congestion in the vessels from the lungs to the heart, which can manifest itself through shortness of breath and feelings of tightness. (more information: Heart failure: These first signs we should know)

How is a heart failure triggered?

The Berlin experts indicate that coronary heart disease is the main cause of heart failure. Other possible causes include:

• high blood pressure,
• Diseases of the heart valves,
• permanent cardiac arrhythmias (heart palpitations, tachycardia),
• congenital heart disease,
• diabetes,
• Diseases of the heart muscle.

From accompanying symptom to independent syndrome

The physicians explain that the understanding of heart failure in recent years has changed from a concomitant symptom of the underlying heart disease to a stand-alone syndrome. Cardiac insufficiency itself can sometimes cause serious consequences for organs, as well as severely affect the quality of life and life expectancy of patients. The mortality rate in advanced heart failure is comparable to that of some serious oncoses, according to the experts.

Treatment of heart failure is a top priority

In recent years, many cardiology specialists have begun to place comprehensive cardiovascular treatment as a top priority in cardiovascular patients. In the past, the causes of cardiac insufficiency were decisive, but now they increasingly take a back seat. At present, one of the primary goals of treatment is a crisis-related deterioration ("decompensation") with the necessity of inpatient hospitalization for stabilization ("recompensation"). According to the physicians, these incidents would lead to further restrictions on the reserve capacity of the heart.

National Heart Center to improve the treatment

The German Heart Center Berlin, the Department of Internal Medicine specializing in Cardiology and the Department of Cardiology at the Campus Virchow-Klinikum Charité have developed a concept for the joint care of patients with severe heart failure. Experience, state-of-the-art equipment and expertise are combined here in the immediate vicinity. Regardless of the age of the patient and the cause and severity of the heart failure, the best possible treatment can be ensured here.

Far-reaching offer

The certified clinic offers treatment options for severe heart failure, "artificial heart" patients or heart transplants. The entire spectrum of modern therapy in cardiology, pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery is available for diagnosis and therapy. (Vb)