Taking heart failure seriously

Cleland, John G.F.

doi:10.1136/bmj.321.7269.1095

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 14 publications

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“…The majority of first presentations of heart failure occur in hospital and over 40% of patients in the community with heart failure have been hospitalised within the previous year. 14,15 Hospitalisation is a key event that provides an opportunity to clarify the diagnosis and optimise therapy. Accordingly, the EuroHeart Failure survey was devised and conducted, as part of the EuroHeart Survey programme, in order to determine whether consecutive patients with known or suspected heart failure during a hospital admission were being investigated and treated in accordance with ESC guidelines.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The EuroHeart Failure survey programme—a survey on the quality of care among patients with heart failure in Europe Part 1: patient characteristics and diagnosis

Cleland

Swedberg²,

Folláth³

et al. 2003

European Heart Journal

1,233

713

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Known or suspected heart failure comprises a large proportion of admissions to medical wards and such patients are at high risk of early readmission and death. Many of the basic investigations recommended by the ESC were usually carried out, although it is not clear whether this was by design or part of a general routine for all patients being admitted regardless of diagnosis. The investigation most specific for patients with suspected heart failure (echocardiography) was performed less frequently, suggesting that the diagnosis of heart failure is still relatively neglected. Most men but a minority of women who underwent investigation of cardiac function had evidence of moderate or severe left ventricular dysfunction, the main target of current advances in the treatment of heart failure. Considerable diagnostic uncertainty remains for many patients with suspected heart failure, even after echocardiography, which must be resolved in order to target existing and new therapies and services effectively.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%