Recognizing hospitalized heart failure as an entity and developing new therapies to improve outcomes: academics', clinicians', industry's, regulators', and payers' perspectives.

Hospitalized heart failure (HHF) is associated with unacceptably high postdischarge mortality and rehospitalization rates. This heterogeneous group of patients, however, is still treated with standard, homogenous therapies that are not preventing their rapid deterioration. The costs associated with HHF have added demands from society, government, and payers to improve outcomes. With coordinated and committed efforts in the development of new therapies, improvements may be seen in outcomes for patients with HHF. This article summarizes concepts in developing therapies for HHF discussed during a multidisciplinary panel at the Heart Failure Society of America's Annual Scientific Meeting, September 2012.