The left ventricle often undergoes remodeling that results in larger intracardiac blood volumes. This form of congestive heart failure is characterized as dilated congestive cardiomyopathy. In contrast, the response to hypertension and increased systemic resistance is an increase in myocardial wall thickness, or hypertrophy, slowed filling of the LV chamber, no change in systolic EF, and no change or a decrease in intracardiac blood volumes. Cardiac output may be normal at rest but does not increase sufficiently with increasing demand, due in part to a relative decrease in time for diastolic filling. However, clinical trials to test efficacy in CHF with preserved LV function have not been performed.
Digoxin can improve function and slows heart rate and atrioventricular conduction.
Digoxin withdrawal in patients with CHF is associated with increased hospitalization rates and symptoms. Prognosis for the patient with CHF has been related to many factors, including age, serum sodium, C-reactive protein concentrations, peak oxygen consumption, concomitant disease burden, and socioeconomic status. It is currently unknown whether analyses and prediction based on peak oxygen consumption should be adjusted for gender in CHF patients. Compared to Men Data on long-term benefits of treatment regimens exist only for dilated congestive cardiomyopathy, and the vast majority of patients in these studies were men. Diuretics Diuretic-induced hypokalemia has been reported to be more common in women than in men.