Heart Failure in Children and Adolescents

Dear Colleagues,

Pediatric heart failure is a serious and often life-threatening condition in which the heart is no longer able to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. Some of the most common causes of heart failure in children and adolescents include congenital heart defects, cardiomyopathy, infections, arrhythmia, pulmonary hypertension, and genetic disorders. Since heart failure has different causes and outcomes, it is important to recognize how it is diagnosed, treated, and even cured in younger children.

The costs associated with a heart failure diagnosis are disproportionately high. Both a prolonged hospital length of stay and frequent hospital admissions contribute to high resource utilization in the care of patients with pediatric heart failure. Furthermore, the costs associated with medical care can quickly add up, leading to a significant financial burden for patients and their families. Therefore, there is a pressing need to develop more effective and efficient treatments and management strategies that can help reduce healthcare costs and improve outcomes for children with heart failure.

The aim of this joint Special Issue is to explore the latest research and advances in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of pediatric heart failure, including the epidemiology and pathophysiology of pediatric heart failure, the latest imaging and diagnostic techniques, and emerging treatment strategies such as mechanical circulatory support and heart transplantation.

This joint Special Issue also features articles on the impact of pediatric heart failure on patients and their families, including the psychosocial aspects of the disease and the importance of patient and family-centered care.

Other articles focus on quality improvement initiatives in pediatric heart failure care, including efforts to reduce hospital readmissions and improve patient outcomes, as well as the latest research on pediatric heart failure rehabilitation, pediatric cardiac pharmacology, and the role of exercise in the management of the disease.

Given the advances in cardiac development and genetics research on pediatric cardiovascular disease, it is not outside the realm of possibility for a pediatric discovery to be made that will also benefit adults with heart failure.

Overall, this joint Special Issue on pediatric heart failure aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest research and clinical practices in the field and highlights the ongoing efforts to improve outcomes for children with this complex and challenging condition. Contributions related to all aspects of these topics are welcome.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Children.

Dr. Nancy Saad
Prof. Dr. Carl V. Leier
Guest Editors

• cardiogenetics
• cardiomyopathy
• congenital heart disease
• heart failure
• heart failure diagnosis
• heart failure treatment
• heart transplantation
• pathophysiology
• pediatric heart failure and exercise
• pediatric heart failure and mental health