Guidelines

Welcome to Heart Failure Hub Scotland

Welcome to our Heart Failure Guidance for Healthcare Professionals page. This resource is dedicated to supporting clinicians with the latest insights and best practices in heart failure management.

Here, you’ll find evidence-based guidelines, position statements and local guidance designed to enhance patient care. Whether you’re diagnosing, treating, or managing heart failure patients, these resources will help you stay informed and deliver optimal outcomes.

Heart Failure Guidelines

In this section you will find existing professional guidelines.

If you would like to see additional guidelines in this section please contact us to make a request.

2021 European Society of Cardiology guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure

In 2023 a focussed update of this guideline was published with recommendations on HFmrEF, HFpEF, co-morbidities and acute heart failure

NICE and SIGN guidelines

In 2018 & 2025 NICE published acute and chronic heart failure guidance.

The SIGN 'management of chronic heart failure' guideline was published in 2016.

Position statements

The following position statements have been developed to provide expert consensus of the diagnosis and management of specific conditions related to heart failure.

Integration of implantable device therapy in patients with heart failure

This clinical consensus document of the HFA and EHRA of the ESC describes the rationale behind device-provided therapy and management, offers an overview of current implantable device options recommended by the guidelines and proposes a new integrated model of device therapy as a part of HF care

HFpEF management

A clinical decision pathway from the ACC on the diagnosis and management of HFpEF

Diagnosis and treatment of cardiac amyloidosis

Position statement from the ESC proposing invasive and non-invasive definition of cardiac amyloidosis, clinical scenarios and situations to suspect the condition and a diagnostic algorithm to aid diagnosis. In addition information on how to monitor and treat cardiac amyloidosis is included.

NT-proBNP in the diagnosis of heart failure

Practical algorithms for early diagnosis of heart failure and heart stress using NT-proBNP: A clinical consensus statement from the Heart Failure Association of the ESC

Heart failure in hospital

Pre-discharge and early post-discharge management of patients hospitalised for acute heart failure: A scientific statement by the Heart Failure Association of the ESC

Heart failure in the community

Heart failure diagnosis in the general community – Who, how and when? A clinical consensus statement of the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)

Palliative care in heart failure

Culture, ethnicity, and socio-economic status as determinants of the management of patients with advanced heart failure who need palliative care

This paper examines current evidence, provides practical guidance, and signposts professionals on developing cultural competence within the setting of patients with advanced heart failure who may benefit from palliative care.

Integration of a palliative approach into heart failure care

This article provides practical guidance to support the coordinated provision of palliation strategies as goals of care fluctuate along the heart failure disease trajectory.

Supportive Palliative Care in Heart Failure

This supportive and palliative care guidance has been designed to support cardiac professionals to feel confident about caring for people living with and dying from advanced heart failure

Advice for living with heart failure

Self-care for heart failure patients

This article provides practical advice for healthcare professionals delivering care to patients with heart failure. Recommendations for nutrition, physical activity, medication adherence, psychological status, sleep, leisure and travel, smoking, immunisation and preventing infections, symptom monitoring, and symptom management are consistent with information from guidelines, expert consensus documents, recent evidence and expert opinion.

Dietary sodium and fluid intake in heart failure

This clinical consensus statement from the HFA of the ESC provides advice on fluid and sodium intake in patients with acute and chronic HF, based on contemporary evidence and expert opinion.