There are a variety of types of heart failure, including chronic heart failure and acute heart failure. Chronic heart failure can be classified several different ways.

One of the most commonly used classification systems was developed by the New York Heart Association, which classifies chronic heart failure patients by the severity of their condition. The classifications include Class 1, which is characterized by no obvious symptoms or limitations on physical activity. Class II patients have some symptoms during or after normal activity, and experience mild physical activity limitations. Patients classified as Class III experience symptoms with less than ordinary activity and have moderate to significant physical activity limitations. Class IV includes those patients who experience significant symptoms, even while at rest. Class IV patients will have very limited physical activity.

A second classification system was developed by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association. This system classifies heart failure based on the stages in the evolution and progression of heart failure. Stage A identifies the patient who is at high risk for developing heart failure but has no structural disorder of the heart. Stage B refers to a patient with a structural disorder of the heart but who has never developed symptoms of heart failure. Stage C denotes the patient with past or current symptoms of heart failure associated with underlying structural heart disease. Stage D designates the patient with end-stage disease who requires specialized treatment strategies such as mechanical circulatory support, continuous intravenous infusions of medications to make the heart beat more vigorously, heart transplantation, or hospice care.

Each of these classification systems can help providers determine the appropriate standard of care for the individual patient. Treatment options will be selected in order to slow the progression of the heart failure, and to help the patient enjoy the greatest length and quality of life possible, given their condition.