Table 1.

Heart failure staging in children.

Stage (Class)	Description
A	Patients with increased risk of developing HF but with normal cardiac function and chamber size. Examples: univentricular heart, previous exposure to anthracycline, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries, h/o familial dilated cardiomyopathy
B	Patients with abnormal cardiac morphology or function with no past or current symptoms of HF. Examples: asymptomatic dilated LV, isolated LV noncompaction
C	Patients with past or current HF symptoms and structural or functional heart disease
D	Patients with end-stage HF requiring continuous infusion of inotropic agents, mechanical circulatory support, cardiac transplantation, or hospice care

HF = heart failure, LV = left ventricle.