Lecture Overview

In recent years, heart failure has been increasing worldwide to the extent that it is often referred to as a “heart failure pandemic,” highlighting the growing importance of early detection and individualized care. Echocardiography plays an indispensable role at all stages of heart failure as a non-invasive tool for assessing cardiac function.

In addition to conventional parameters, advanced techniques have become clinically applicable, including global longitudinal strain (GLS) using speckle-tracking, strain measurements of the left atrium and right ventricle, and congestion assessment using lung and renal ultrasound. GLS, in particular, is useful for detecting myocardial dysfunction at the asymptomatic stage (stages A and B), enabling preventive interventions. In symptomatic heart failure (stages C and D), assessment of congestion has become increasingly important for evaluating treatment efficacy and guiding decisions on hospital discharge.

In this lecture, as a cardiologist specializing in echocardiography for heart failure, I will present how echocardiography can be applied in routine clinical practice to improve treatment outcomes in patients with heart failure, illustrated with practical examples. I will also introduce the latest guidelines and evidence, highlighting the potential of echocardiography in heart failure management and discussing future perspectives in the field.