What is the Difference Between Compensated and Decompensated Heart Failure?

The difference between compensated and decompensated heart failure lies in the severity of the condition and the ability of the heart to compensate for its reduced pumping capacity.

Compensated Heart Failure:

In compensated heart failure, the heart still functions well enough that the patient does not experience symptoms or only experiences stable symptoms.
The body adapts to the heart's reduced pumping ability, and the patient may not notice any significant issues.
There is no fluid buildup in the legs and feet, and the patient can breathe without trouble.

Decompensated Heart Failure:

Decompensated heart failure is a severe form of the condition where the heart's ability to compensate for its reduced pumping capacity has become overwhelmed, causing symptoms that affect the patient's overall health and quality of life.
Symptoms may include congestion in the lungs, making it harder to breathe and causing wheezing or coughing.
The patient may feel tired and experience difficulty exercising or performing daily activities.
Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) may also occur.

In summary, compensated heart failure is a milder form of the condition where the heart still functions well enough to avoid noticeable symptoms, while decompensated heart failure is a more severe form with symptoms that significantly impact the patient's health and quality of life.

On this page

What is the Difference Between Compensated and Decompensated Heart Failure?

Comparative Table: Compensated vs Decompensated Heart Failure

The main difference between compensated and decompensated heart failure lies in the symptoms and the patient's overall condition. Here is a table comparing the two:

Feature	Compensated Heart Failure	Decompensated Heart Failure
Symptoms	Stable or absent	Present and worsening
Patient's Condition	Asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic	Symptomatic
Adaptive Changes	Cardiac tissues adapt to maintain desired cardiac output	Adaptive changes fail, leading to a decline in cardiac output
Progression	Initial stage of heart failure	Later stage of heart failure

In compensated heart failure, the patient remains either asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic, and the adaptive changes in the cardiac tissues help maintain the desired cardiac output. On the other hand, in decompensated heart failure, the patient experiences worsening symptoms, and the adaptive changes in the cardiac tissues fail to maintain the desired cardiac output.

Guilherme Mazui

Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.