Medical history (history of illness) is an important component in the diagnosis of heart failure (heart insufficiency).
Family history
- Is there a history of frequent heart disease in your family?
Social history
Current medical history/systemic history (somatic and psychological complaints).
- Do you notice shortness of breath when you exert yourself?
- At what level of exertion does the shortness of breath occur?
- Do you have shortness of breath without exertion?*
- Do you wake up at night because of shortness of breath?*
- Do your legs swell during the day?
- Do you have to get up at night to urinate? If so, how often?
- Do you feel nauseous or have pain in the stomach area more often?
- Have you noticed an increased girth in your abdomen or legs?
- Do you have to cough frequently and have frothy sputum?
- Do you feel diminished ability to perform?
- Do you notice a rapid pulse?
- Do you often have cold and bluish discolored lips and fingers?
- Do you have cold sweats, are you pale and do you have a drop in blood pressure?* .
Vegetative history including nutritional history.
- Are you overweight? Please indicate your body weight (in kg) and height (in cm).
- Have you lost body weight?
- Has your appetite changed?
- Do you get enough exercise every day?
- Do you smoke? If so, how many cigarettes, cigars or pipes per day?
- Do you drink alcohol? If yes, what drink(s) and how many glasses per day?
- Do you use drugs? If yes, what drugs and how often per day or per week?
Self history incl. medication history.
- Pre-existing conditions (heart disease: Hypertension (high blood pressure), coronary artery disease (CAD)).
- Operations
- Allergies
Medication history
- Calcimimetic (etelcalcetide) → worsening heart failure.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs; non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, NSAID).
- 19% increased risk of decompensated heart failureA significantly higher risk was associated with current use of diclofenac, etoricoxib, ibuprofen, indomethacin, ketorolac, naproxen, nimesulide, piroxicam, rofecoxib
- Nonselective NSAIDs: ibuprofen, naproxen, and diclofenac increased risk by 15%, 19%, and 21%, respectively
- COX-2 inhibitors rofecoxib and etoricoxib led to a 34% and 55% increase in risk, respectively.
- Very high doses of
- Diclofenac, etoricoxib, indomethacin, piroxicam, and rofecoxib actually resulted in more than twice the risk (OR: 2.2; 2.3; 2.5; 2.1; 2.0)
- Ibuprofen (OR: 1.9; confidence interval: 0.8 to 4.6).
- Greatest hazard for heart failure-related hospitalization was associated with ketoralac (odds ratio, OR: 1.94)
- Note: “The indication of drugs that may adversely affect the clinical condition of patients with heart failure should be critically evaluated. These include, for example, class I and III antiarrhythmic agents, calcium channel blockers (except amlodipine, felodipine), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.” Please see Table 19: Selected Drugs That May Adversely Affect the Clinical Condition of Patients with HFrEF.
* If this question has been answered with “Yes”, an immediate visit to the physician is required! (No responsibility is taken for the correctness of this information)
