This scientific statement provides comprehensive guidance on the assessment, management, and discharge planning for children and adolescents presenting with acute decompensated heart failure.
This AHA scientific statement provides a comprehensive guidance document for the evaluation, management, and discharge planning of children with acute decompensated heart failure.
Nationally, there has been a rise in the number of children and adolescents with congenital and acquired heart disease presenting with acute decompensated heart failure. Compared with adults, these children have increased morbidity and mortality and use significantly more health care resources once admitted. Currently, there is little guidance on how to assess, manage, and create successful discharge plans for children presenting with acute decompensated heart failure. Given that this population represents an intersection among emergency medicine, cardiology, surgery, critical care, and psychology, a guidance document for the comprehensive management of this high-risk population is needed. This scientific statement reflects the state of current evidence and highlights important knowledge gaps in this domain.
“Thanks to medical advances, we have more children living with heart disease and, therefore, more children coming into an emergency department or being hospitalized with heart failure. Research shows that once children get admitted for heart failure, they are much more likely than adults to need advanced cardiac therapies or die. And, while readmission rates have steadily declined in adults with heart failure — largely thanks to improved interventions and management practices — readmission rates have not changed for pediatric patients.”
This is the first comprehensive scientific statement from the AHA on the management of acute decompensated heart failure in children, addressing a significant gap in pediatric cardiology guidance.
Cabrera et al. (2026) conducted a review in Acute decompensated heart failure. This scientific statement provides comprehensive guidance on the assessment, management, and discharge planning for children and adolescents presenting with acute decompensated heart failure.