Simulate Heart Failure by a Mathematical Model

Heart failure is simulated using a cardiovascular system model with embedded autonomic nervous regulation and renal blood volume adjustment. The main cardiovascular parameters under heart failure are set as reducing the left ventricular myocardial maximum elasticity by 50%, increasing sympathetic nerve activity by 20% and decreasing vagus nerve activity by 80%, increasing peripheral resistance by 60% and decreasing vascular compliance by 25%. The simulation results show that compared with normal condition, in heart failure the cardiac output (CO) reduced from 5.832 L/min to 5.767 L/min, the eject fraction (EF) reduced from 63.31% to 43.65% and left ventricular wall thickness (LVWT) increased from 10 mm to 13.70 mm. These results generally agree with physiological and pathological features of human heart failure.