EURObservational Research Programme: regional differences and 1‐year follow‐up results of the Heart Failure Pilot Survey (ESC‐HF Pilot)

Abstract

AimsThe ESC-HF Pilot survey was aimed to describe clinical epidemiology and 1-year outcomes of outpatients and inpatients with heart failure (HF). The pilot phase was also specifically aimed at validating structure, performance, and quality of the data set for continuing the survey into a permanent Registry. MethodsThe ESC-HF Pilot study is a prospective, multicentre, observational survey conducted in 136 Cardiology Centres in 12 European countries selected to represent the different health systems across Europe. All outpatients with HF and patients admitted for acute HF on 1 day per week for eight consecutive months were included. From October 2009 to May 2010, 5118 patients were included: 1892 (37%) admitted for acute HF and 3226 (63%) patients with chronic HF. The all-cause mortality rate at 1 year was 17.4% in acute HF and 7.2% in chronic stable HF. One-year hospitalization rates were 43.9% and 31.9%, respectively, in hospitalized acute and chronic HF patients. Major regional differences in 1-year mortality were observed that could be explained by differences in characteristics and treatment of the patients. ConclusionThe ESC-HF Pilot survey confirmed that acute HF is still associated with a very poor medium-term prognosis, while the widespread adoption of evidence-based treatments in patients with chronic HF seems to have improved their outcome profile. Differences across countries may be due to different local medical practice as well to differences in healthcare systems. This pilot study also offered the opportunity to refine the organizational structure for a long-term extended European network.--

Hospital and 4‐Year Mortality Predictors in Patients With Acute Pulmonary Edema With and Without Coronary Artery Disease

“…Also of importance is the fact that identification of CAD patients was based not only on clinical grounds, but also on coronary angiography data available in 69% of them, but also in 43% of those with non‐CAD. This is in contrast to most existing series of APE7, 10, 23 or acute heart failure,1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 13 where angiographic data are not provided. Of interest is the documentation of significant coronary artery stenosis in 32% of non‐CAD patients who underwent cardiac catheterization, pointing to the concomitant presence of CAD in patients with the primary diagnosis of valvular heart disease.…”

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“…The survey used a range of question formats to measure confidence, clinical practice patterns, and attitudes/perceptions related to the diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, long‐term management, and multidisciplinary care of patients with HF. Given variations across national HF guidelines, care was taken not to assess ideas or practices that differed by country 9, 10…”

Kyoto Congestive Heart Failure (KCHF) study: rationale and design

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