Key Takeaways: Interventional Heart Failure (IHF) as an Emerging Subspecialty 11 Feb 2025.

Key Takeaways: Interventional Heart Failure (IHF) as an Emerging Subspecialty

11 Feb 2025.

1. Definition & Scope

• IHF is a growing subspecialty that combines interventional cardiology and advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology (AHFTC).

• The goal is to enhance care for complex heart failure patients.

2. Growing Importance

• Device-based therapies for heart failure are advancing rapidly alongside pharmacological treatments.

• There is no standardized training pathway for IHF specialists, despite the increasing need.

3. Pathways to Becoming an IHF Specialist

• Some IHF specialists begin as AHFTC trainees and gain expertise in invasive procedures.

• Others start in interventional cardiology and shift focus to heart failure management.

4. Proposed Standardized Training

• A two-year training program is suggested:

• Year 1: Focus on interventional cardiology.

• Year 2: Focus on AHFTC.

• Training should cover key topics like cardiogenic shock, pulmonary hypertension, and percutaneous interventions while allowing flexibility for individual interests.

5. Future of IHF

• IHF offers diverse career opportunities, blending procedural skills with heart failure management.

• The field’s development will vary based on healthcare systems, training structures, and institutional support (e.g., differences between the U.S. and Europe).

• As heart failure treatments increasingly involve interventional procedures, demand for dual-trained specialists will rise, making IHF a promising and essential field.