What is typically measured to assess the severity of heart failure?

Ejection fraction is a critical measurement used to assess the severity of heart failure because it reflects the percentage of blood that is pumped out of the heart with each contraction. This metric provides insight into how well the heart is functioning and can indicate the presence and extent of heart failure. A reduced ejection fraction signifies that the heart is not effectively pumping blood, which is a hallmark of heart failure.

This measurement is particularly important in differentiating between various types of heart failure, such as heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Monitoring ejection fraction helps healthcare providers determine treatment plans and predict outcomes for patients with heart failure.

While blood pressure, cardiac output, and heart rate are also important indicators of cardiovascular health, they do not specifically measure the contractile function of the heart as directly as ejection fraction does. Therefore, ejection fraction is the most relevant metric for assessing heart failure severity.