Heart failure concept, its clasification, pathophysiology and etiology will be reviewed in the present update. Heart failure may be defined loss of ability of the heart to deliver oxygen at a rate commensurate with the requirements of the tissues. The etiology is multiple, being the most common causes ischemic heart disease (IHD) and hypertension. The HF's incidence and prevalence are high. HF is a relevance condition because mortality and hospitalization rates are high. HF can be classified according ejection fraction, clinical course or symptons severity.