Heart failure is consolidated as a public health problem of the first order in Catalonia. Specialists warn that the number of diagnoses will grow steadily in the coming years due to demographic aging and the prevalence of metabolic risk factors.
Obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and poor dietary habits act as the main drivers of this trend. Cardiologist Ramon Bascompte forcefully defines the current situation by pointing out that it is already a pandemic and predicts that its impact will intensify even further in the immediate future.
Ventricular assist devices gain ground as therapy
The clinical approach to the disease varies according to the severity of the condition and the patient's age. While a broad segment of those affected requires the use of implantable electronic devices such as pacemakers or defibrillators, the most complex cases lead to highly specialized surgical solutions.
Some patients are direct candidates for heart transplantation. Others, in a much smaller proportion, undergo the implantation of ventricular assist devices. These mechanisms function as mechanical artificial hearts and fulfill a dual role: they can operate as definitive therapy or serve as a temporary bridge until another intervention is viable.
Ramon Bascompte points out that it is foreseen that this technique will increase as technology improves and its availability expands.
Two patients in Lleida have had ventricular assistance for two years.
These two cases registered in the province of Lleida maintain a mixed follow-up with the reference hospitals in Barcelona. The coordination between territories allows monitoring the evolution of these advanced treatments without the patient having to permanently move outside their area of residence.
Young people maintain ties with reference hospitals
The profile of patients undergoing more aggressive treatments also includes younger people. This group maintains close care links with high-complexity centers such as the Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge and the Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron.
Clinical research is crucial for improving long-term outcomes. José Luis Morales emphasizes the need to continue studying new therapeutic pathways. Access to innovative drugs and the development of early detection protocols are key to slowing disease progression.
The improvement in survival and quality of life depends on the combination of primary prevention of risk factors and the availability of increasingly effective circulatory support technologies.