What is the most common cause of right-sided heart failure?

Right-sided heart failure often stems from increased pressure in the lungs, which can happen when the left side of the heart is not functioning properly. When the left side of the heart fails, it can lead to fluid accumulation in the lungs, causing pulmonary congestion and creating a backlog of pressure. This condition forces the right side of the heart to work harder to pump blood into the lungs for oxygenation. Over time, this added strain can weaken the right heart's ability to function, leading to right-sided heart failure. Therefore, left-sided heart failure is recognized as the most common precipitating factor for right-sided heart failure, as it directly impacts the hemodynamics of the cardiovascular system.

The other conditions listed, while they can contribute to right-sided heart failure, usually do not serve as the primary mechanism. For instance, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease can lead to a condition known as cor pulmonale (right-sided heart failure due to lung disease), but it is less common than the sequelae of left-sided heart failure. Heart valve disease and myocardial infarction are also significant causes of heart dysfunction but do not consistently lead to right-sided heart failure in the way that left-sided heart failure does.