Heart Failure Society of America 16th Annual Scientific Meeting to Focus on New Developments in Heart Failure Cause, Care and Treatment

SEATTLE, Sept. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Heart Failure Society of America's (HFSA) 16^th Annual Scientific Meeting convenes Sunday, September 9, 2012 at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle. This four-day meeting—a forum for heart failure specialists to present research findings and advances in treatment—will address emerging trends in research and new developments in the approach to treating patients with all stages of heart failure.

The scientific program will kick off with an opening plenary session: "Communication in a New World" on Monday, September 10 at 8:00 a.m. Prior to the opening session, the 2012 HFSA Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Dr. Bertram Pitt, M.D., Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan School of Medicine. Dr. Pitt has published hundreds of papers, and has conducted research into virtually all areas of cardiology, with a focus on heart failure.

Following the opening plenary will be simultaneous sessions with presentations by national and international heart failure experts, scientists, and allied health care professionals.  Many will focus on the progressive treatments for heart failure and the increased risks patients face.

"This year's annual meeting will feature many exciting new advances in the field of heart failure, specifically in the areas of device therapy and management of heart failure outside the hospital setting," said Dr. Barry Massie, HFSA President. "As always, the conference will feature the latest developments in clinical trials and new research from the leading practitioners and scientists interested in heart failure. Thought leaders in the field will discuss causes and treatment of heart failure and the important socio-economic issues surrounding this condition."  

The Annual Scientific Meeting will include presentations on:

• Going Home: Support Outside the Hospital
• Sleep Disordered Breathing in Heart Failure
• Stem Cell Controversies
• Management in Nursing Homes
• Reducing Readmissions: What Can We Agree On?
• Restricting Sodium: Truth or Tradition?

For a complete list of annual meeting sessions or for details on attending the conference, call (617) 226-7193 or visit www.hfsa.org and click on Annual Scientific Meeting. There is no registration fee for accredited journalists. Interview areas will be available on-site in addition to a fully-staffed press room with phone and internet accessibility. You may follow news from the meeting on Twitter at @HFSA and #HFSA

About Heart Failure
Heart failure is a progressive condition in which the heart muscle becomes weakened after it is injured, most commonly from heart attack or high blood pressure, and gradually loses its ability to pump enough blood to supply the body's needs. Many people are not aware they have heart failure because the symptoms are often mistaken for signs of getting older. Heart failure affects 4.6 to 4.8 million individuals in the United States. Demographic and clinical evidence strongly suggests that the prevalence of heart failure will increase throughout the next decade. Ten to 15 years ago heart failure was considered a "death sentence;" however, recent advances in treatment have shown that early diagnosis and proper care in early stages of the condition are key to slowing, stopping or in some cases reversing progression, improving quality of life, and extending life expectancy. For more information on heart failure, please visit www.abouthf.org.

About the Heart Failure Society of America
The Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) is a nonprofit educational organization, founded in 1994 as the first organized association of heart failure experts. The HFSA provides a forum for all those interested in heart function, heart failure research and patient care. The Society also serves as a resource for governmental agencies (FDA, NIH, NHLBI, CMS). The HFSA Annual Scientific Meeting is designed to highlight recent advances in the development of strategies to address the complex epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic issues of heart failure. Additional information on HFSA can be found at www.hfsa.org.

SOURCE Heart Failure Society of America