Cough as the first symptom of chronic heart failure: A case report of a 72-year-old woman

Heart failure (HF) is defined as a clinical syndrome characterized by several key symptoms, which may be accompanied by physical signs. The prevalence of HF among adults in developed countries is approximately 1%–2%, and its frequency increases with age. HF is classified into three types: heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF), and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The aim of this paper is to present the subtle clinical manifestation and diagnostic process based on the case of a 72-year-old female patient. This is a case-based report. The research method involved the analysis of a clinical case, utilizing the patient's medical records and test results as the primary tools. The diagnostic techniques included a review of the patient's documentation and relevant literature. The first section outlines the pathophysiological basis, symptoms, classification, and treatment of heart failure. The diagnostic pathway of the patient is described, focusing on her initial presentation with mild cough without other clinical symptoms that could indicate the final diagnosis. Echocardiography is one of the key diagnostic methods in chronic heart failure, but chest X-ray imaging can provide valuable clues when determining the etiology of symptoms presented by patients in primary care settings.