Differential Diagnosis for Heart Failure
- Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): This is often the most common cause of heart failure, particularly in older adults, due to the high prevalence of atherosclerosis leading to myocardial infarction and subsequent heart failure.
- Other Likely Diagnoses
- Hypertension: Chronic uncontrolled hypertension can lead to left ventricular hypertrophy and eventually heart failure.
- Diabetic Cardiomyopathy: Diabetes mellitus can cause a specific form of cardiomyopathy that leads to heart failure, independent of CAD or hypertension.
- Valvular Heart Disease: Conditions such as mitral regurgitation, aortic stenosis, and others can lead to heart failure if not properly managed.
- Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Pulmonary Embolism: Although less common, a large pulmonary embolism can cause acute right heart failure and is potentially life-threatening if missed.
- Cardiac Tamponade: Accumulation of fluid in the pericardial space can compress the heart, leading to acute heart failure, and is critical to diagnose due to its high mortality if untreated.
- Aortic Dissection: This condition can lead to acute heart failure among other complications and has a high mortality rate if not promptly diagnosed and treated.
- Rare Diagnoses
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis: A condition where granulomas form in the heart, leading to heart failure, which is less common but important to consider in the right clinical context.
- Hemochromatosis: A genetic disorder leading to iron overload, which can cause heart failure among other systemic complications.
- Amyloidosis: A condition characterized by the deposition of amyloid proteins in the heart, leading to restrictive cardiomyopathy and heart failure, which is rare but has a distinct clinical presentation.