Question

A client with chronic heart failure is able to continue with his regular physical activity and does not have any limitations as to what he can do. According to the New York Heart Association (NYHA), what classification of chronic heart failure does this client have?

Answer 1

Answer:

According to the NYHA, this client has a chronic heart failure class I.

Explanation:

The most common used functional classification system for heart failure is that developed by the New York Heart Association. It is used to assess a patient's functional status based on activity level and symptoms. There are four classes:

1. Class I: (Mild, asymptomatic) no limitation in physical activity; ordinary physical activity does not cause symptoms.
2. Class II: (Mild) slight limitation in physical activity; ordinary physical activity causes mild symptoms such as dyspnea (shortness of breath), angina (chest pain), fatigue and/or palpitations.
3. Class III: (Moderate) marked limitation in physical activity, comfortable only at rest; less-than-ordinary physical activity causes symptoms.
4. Class IV: (Severe) severe limitation in physical activity; symptomatic even at rest.

The client from the question is able to continue with his regular physical activity and has no limitations as to what he can do, so we assume he presents no symptoms. Based on this information, we can say that this client's heart failure can be classified as NYHA Class I.