BOCA RATON, Fla., Sept. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) today kicked off their 9th Annual Scientific Meeting, a forum for heart failure specialists to present advances in heart failure treatment. Through Wednesday, Sept. 21, internationally renowned cardiologists, nurses, basic scientists, pharmacists and other allied health care professionals will participate in debates, lead panel discussions and attend satellite symposiums.
Heart failure is one of the major public health problems facing the U.S. today. Demographic and clinical evidence strongly suggests that the prevalence of heart failure will increase over the next 10 years, which will enhance the adverse public health impact of this syndrome. The Annual Scientific Meeting is one example of HFSA’s dedication to the development of strategies to deal more effectively with the many epidemiological, clinical, research and therapeutic issues that surround heart failure.
“The HFSA format for the Annual Scientific Meeting is a unique opportunity for us to foster a high-level exchange of best practices and to host well- rounded presentations of the science behind advances in heart failure treatment,” says Gary S. Francis, M.D., HFSA President. “State of the art presentations and oral sessions by the best heart failure experts cover every aspect of treatment and research, from bone marrow stem cell therapies that hold the promise of regenerating lost heart muscle to addressing health disparities facing women, African-Americans, Hispanics, patients of different socioeconomic status and geography. The outcomes presented here are felt at more than four million patient bedsides.”
During the four days of the Annual Scientific Meeting, cardiologists, nurses, basic scientists, pharmacists and other allied health care professionals will discuss some of the following topics:
* Ethical Dilemmas in Research (opening plenary session) * Improving Quality of Life Through Symptom Management * Myocardial Regeneration: Stem Cell Based Therapies * Issues in Treating Obese Patients in Heart Failure * Addressing Health Disparities in Heart Failure * Devices for the Management of Heart Failure * State of the Art: Emerging Therapies * Late Breaking Clinical Trials For the complete list of sessions, go to http://www.hfsa.org/conference_calendar_2005.asp.
About Heart Failure
Heart failure is a progressive condition in which the heart’s muscle becomes weakened after it is injured from a heart attack or high blood pressure and gradually loses its ability to pump enough blood to supply the body’s needs. Many people are not aware that they have heart failure because the symptoms are often mistaken for signs of getting older.
Heart failure affects from 4.6 to 4.8 million individuals in the United States. It is the leading cause for hospitalization in individuals 65 years and older; it is the only cardiovascular disease on the rise with 400,000 to 700,000 new cases being diagnosed each year, and it is the most costly cardiovascular disease in the U.S., with estimated costs exceeding $22 billion, 80 percent of the cost being borne by Medicare. It is the number one discharge diagnosis in the U.S.
Ten to 15 years ago heart failure was considered a “death sentence.” However, recent and profound advances in the treatment of heart failure have shown that early diagnosis and proper treatment of heart failure in the early stages are the keys to improving quality of life and extending life expectancy.
For more information on HFSA and heart failure, please visit http://www.abouthf.org.
About the Heart Failure Society of America
The Heart Failure Society of America is a nonprofit educational organization with 1,700 members, all of whom are health care professionals with an interest in heart failure. The Society is committed to educating professionals about the disease as well as providing educational materials written specifically for patients, their families and individuals at risk for the disease. The Society also serves as a resource for governmental agencies (FDA, NIH, NHLBI, CMS) and has liaisons with a number of pharmaceutical and device companies with an interest in heart failure. In early 2006 the HFSA will be unveiling new and updated heart failure treatment Guidelines - the first from HFSA since 1999.
The Heart Failure Society of America
CONTACT: Gena Henderson of The Heart Failure Society of America,+1-617-226-7185, ghenderson@bellpottingerusa.com
