To Members of the Heart Failure Society of America:
Welcome to Heart Failure Awareness Week 2022 which starts today and runs through February 19. This is an important week for the HFSA and our members, as well everyone with an interest in heart failure, providing national focus and exposure to this disease.
Heart Failure Awareness Week resulted from the sponsoring efforts of the HFSA, leading to a United States Senate resolution on February 10, 2000, designating February 14 to 18 of that year as National Heart Failure Awareness Week. Since then, the U.S. has observed Heart Failure Awareness Week during the week of Valentine’s Day.
The primary goals of this week, as stated in the Senate resolution more than twenty years ago, remain pertinent today. Indeed, these goals continue to be priorities for the HFSA throughout the year: (1) to promote research related to all aspects of heart failure and provide a forum for presentation of that research; (2) to educate heart failure caregivers and patients through programs, publications, and other media allowing for more effective treatment and diagnosis of heart failure; and (3) to enhance the quality and duration of life for those with heart failure.
The theme for the HFSA HF Awareness Week 2022 is “Heart Success: Function Not Failure.” We want to get the message out that we have many effective therapies to help patients so that they can find heart success rather than failure.
While HFSA had a pivotal role in the establishment of Heart Failure Awareness week, other organizations now have joined us to champion this week, including the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses (AAHFN). This year, their theme is “Care Transitions and Reduction in Hospitalization,” another cause worthy of recognition.
On the HFSA side, we have scheduled many activities this week, and I’d like to highlight three of them. The first, Tuesday, February 15, at 12:00 PM EST, is a livestream discussion and Q&A with heart failure specialists including the all-star lineup of Drs. Eiran Gorodeski, Kaushik Jain, Monique Robinson and nurse practitioner, Sara Paul. This will be livestreamed on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube so you can participate on your favorite platform. Simply visit HFSA’s homepage on the platform of your choice, and you should see the livestream video feed.
Second, on Wednesday, February 16, at 12:00 PM EST, join us for a Twitter Chat using #HFChat2022. @MarkDrazner will see you there. To participate or follow along with the conversation, follow #HFChat2022. You can join in by adding the Question # to your response or simply follow along. A transcript will be shared and posted online following the chat.
Lastly, on Thursday, February 17, a new episode of Heart Failure Beat: Healthy Living Podcast will drop. The theme is Optimizing the Heart Failure Patient-Provider Relationship featuring Dr. Brittany Clayborne, a patient of mine who I am confident will inspire you.
I hope you will amplify the awareness of heart failure by hosting events in your local communities during this week, as well. Please tag your social media postings with #HFWeek2022 so I and your fellow HFSA members can follow along.
Mark H. Drazner, MD, MSc, FHFSA
HFSA President 2021-2022