Sex‐based differences in referral of heart failure patients to outpatient clinics: a scoping review

Abstract

Background Guidelines recommend that hospitalized patients newly diagnosed with HF be referred to an outpatient HF clinic (HFC) within 2 weeks of discharge. Our study aims were (i) to assess the current literary landscape on the impact of patient sex on HFC referral and outcomes and (ii) to provide a qualitative overview of possible considerations for the impact of sex on referral patterns and HF characteristics including aetiology, symptom severity, investigations undertaken and pharmacologic therapy. Methods and resultsWe conducted a scoping review using the Arksey and O'Malley framework and searched Medline, EMBASE, PsychINFO, Cochrane Library, Ageline databases and grey literature. Eligible articles included index HF hospitalizations or presentations to the Emergency Department (ED), a description of the HFC referral of patients not previously followed by an HF specialist and sex-specific analysis. Of the 11 372 potential studies, 8 met the inclusion criteria. These studies reported on a total of 11 484 participants, with sample sizes ranging between 168 and 3909 (25.6%-50.7% female). The included studies were divided into two groups: (i) those outlining the referral process to an HFC and (ii) studies which include patients newly enrolled in an HFC. Of the studies in Group 1, males (51%-82.4%) were more frequently referred to an HFC compared with females (29%-78.1%). Studies in Group 2 enrolled a higher proportion of males (62%-74% vs. 26%-38%). One study identified independent predictors of HFC referral which included male sex, younger age, and the presence of systolic dysfunction, the latter two more often found in males. Two studies, one from each group reported a higher mortality amongst males compared with females, whereas another study from Group 2 reported a higher hospitalization rate amongst females following HFC assessment. Conclusions Males were more likely than females to be referred to HFCs after hospitalization and visits to the Emergency Department, however heterogeneity across studies precluded a robust assessment of sex-based differences in outcomes. This highlights the need for more comprehensive longitudinal data on HF patients discharged from the acute care setting to better understand the role of sex on patient outcomes.

Sex Disparities in Longitudinal Use and Intensification of Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy Among Patients With Newly Diagnosed Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction

“…25,26 At a health-system level, female patients are less likely to be referred to cardiologists, are less likely to be referred to HF specialists, and are less likely to receive follow-up visits after the initial consultation, all of which may affect GDMT prescription and uptitration. 27,28 Female patients also have reported that their symptoms were not addressed and reported being told that their symptoms were related to hormonal fluctuations in the Veterans Affairs health system. 29 Poor physician-patient communication may lead to an inadequate understanding of the risks of suboptimally treated HF.…”