The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology have devised a classification system for heart failure that can be used to direct treatment.Patients with symptoms and underlying disease are classified as:

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Patients with symptoms and underlying disease are classified as Stage C. Stage C is defined as structural heart disease with prior or current symptoms of heart failure. This stage requires aggressive management such as medical therapy and cardiac devices. Stages A and B refer to patients who have not developed symptoms or have asymptomatic structural heart disease. Stage D refers to end-stage heart failure with advanced symptoms despite treatment.