The high-risk patient with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: treatment options and challenges.

An estimated 5.1 million Americans aged 20 years and older have heart failure.(1) With therapies ranging from medication and physical therapy to implantable defibrillators and circulatory support, and possibly transplantation, accurate risk stratification of patient with heart failure and delivery of therapies appropriate to the level of their disease severity is becoming increasingly important. Determination of risk and associated treatment strategies is the subject of this brief review.