CHF Case Study Guide Questions &
Answers 2024/2025
Mr. Thomas Ritchie, a fifty five year old African American male, has been complaining of shortness of
breath for one month. He recently has started a new job and has attributed this to anxiety. Three months
later he is concerned that he is not getting better. His father died at the age of 45 from unspecified
cardiac disease. Mr. R. is recently divorced and has three children under the age of 12. His job demands
frequent traveling and long work hours. He has not exercised for the last 15 years and smokes 2 packs of
cigarettes per day. Mr. R has a physical and is told that his blood pressure is 160/80. He is told to come
back in one week to be rechecked. At that time his blood pressure remains the same. After an extensive
workup, Mr. R is diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure. - ANSWERS
What contributing factors would predispose (cause) Mr. R to congestive heart failure? - ANSWERS-
hypertension (cause)
-male, race, family history (non-modifiable)
-lifestyle: anxiety, smoking, not exercising (modifiable)
Clinical manifestations associated with left sided CHF include the following: - ANSWERS-shortness of
breath: because of decreased CO and becomes
-tachypnea
-crackles
-oliguria because not enough perfusion of blood to the kidneys
-cyanosis
Answers 2024/2025
Mr. Thomas Ritchie, a fifty five year old African American male, has been complaining of shortness of
breath for one month. He recently has started a new job and has attributed this to anxiety. Three months
later he is concerned that he is not getting better. His father died at the age of 45 from unspecified
cardiac disease. Mr. R. is recently divorced and has three children under the age of 12. His job demands
frequent traveling and long work hours. He has not exercised for the last 15 years and smokes 2 packs of
cigarettes per day. Mr. R has a physical and is told that his blood pressure is 160/80. He is told to come
back in one week to be rechecked. At that time his blood pressure remains the same. After an extensive
workup, Mr. R is diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure. - ANSWERS
What contributing factors would predispose (cause) Mr. R to congestive heart failure? - ANSWERS-
hypertension (cause)
-male, race, family history (non-modifiable)
-lifestyle: anxiety, smoking, not exercising (modifiable)
Clinical manifestations associated with left sided CHF include the following: - ANSWERS-shortness of
breath: because of decreased CO and becomes
-tachypnea
-crackles
-oliguria because not enough perfusion of blood to the kidneys
-cyanosis
