Cardiac cachexia

Definition

Cardiac cachexia is a complex metabolic disorder characterized by significant weight loss, muscle wasting, and fat depletion in patients with chronic heart failure. It is associated with poor prognosis and increased morbidity and mortality.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Cardiac cachexia affects approximately 10-15% of patients with chronic heart failure.
2. Nutritional interventions are critical but challenging due to the altered metabolism in cardiac cachexia.
3. Pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-alpha play a significant role in the development of cardiac cachexia.
4. Patients with cardiac cachexia often experience anorexia, early satiety, and gastrointestinal malabsorption contributing to their nutritional deficiencies.
5. Effective management includes a combination of nutritional support, pharmacotherapy, and treatment of underlying heart failure.

Review Questions

• What percentage of chronic heart failure patients are affected by cardiac cachexia?
• Which pro-inflammatory cytokine is notably involved in the pathogenesis of cardiac cachexia?
• What are some common symptoms that contribute to nutritional deficiencies in patients with cardiac cachexia?

Related terms

Heart Failure:

A condition where the heart is unable to pump sufficiently to maintain blood flow to meet the body's needs.

TNF-alpha: A pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in systemic inflammation and implicated in various diseases including cardiac cachexia.

Anorexia: Loss or lack of appetite for food, which can be a symptom or underlying cause of various medical conditions including cardiac cachexia.