Table 3.

Classification of HF accordingly with the American heart association and American college of cardiology (49).

Heart failure stage	AHA/ACC description
Stage A	Patients without identified structural or functional cardiac abnormality or ventricular function abnormality but at high risk of developing HF because of the presence of a condition strongly associated with the development of HF. Examples: anthracycline exposure, known pathogenic sarcomeric gene mutation including dystrophinopathies.
Stage B	Patients with structural heart disease or ventricular function abnormality that is strongly associated with the development of HF but without HF signs or symptoms, past or present. Examples: asymptomatic patient with CHD status post-surgical correction with residual lesion, isolated left ventricle non-compaction.
Stage C	Patients with current or prior symptoms of HF associated with underlying structural heart disease, or ventricular function abnormality. Examples: acute myocarditis., dilated cardiomyopathy, mitral or aortic regurgitation.
Stage D	Patients with advanced structural heart disease and refractory symptoms of HF requiring specialized interventions. Example: Inotropic dependency patient in end stage of dilated cardiomyopathy.