AHF

Definition & Epidemiology Acute heart failure (AHF) refers to the rapid onset or acute worsening of symptoms and/or signs of heart failure (HF), typically prompting urgent medical evaluation, emergency department (ED) visit, or hospitalization. It encompasses: Incidence: ~1–2 million hospitalizations/year in the U.S. Mortality remains high—30-day mortality ~10%, 1-year mortality ~25–30%—underscoring the need for rapid,…

I. Definition and Classification of Severely Elevated Blood Pressure Severely elevated blood pressure (SEBP) remains a common presenting condition in emergency departments and outpatient clinics. It is critical to distinguish between hypertensive emergency (a medical urgency requiring rapid, controlled BP reduction), asymptomatic markedly elevated BP (formerly “hypertensive urgency”), and asymptomatic elevated BP. Classification should be…