UNLABELLED: It was the aim of the Euro Heart Survey on Heart Failure to assess whether patients are being treated according to current guidelines. METHODS: In Germany, patients were screened in 7 medical centers if their discharge diagnoses were myocardial infarction, a new episode of atrial fibrillation, or diabetes mellitus. Patients were enrolled if at least one additional criterion was fulfilled: (1) clinical diagnosis of heart failure, (2) hospital admission due to heart failure within the last 3 years, (3) therapy with loop diuretic, (4) medication for heart failure or ventricular dysfunction documented by echocardiography within the past 24 hours prior to death. RESULTS: 2166 patients were screened of whom 747 were included in the study (478 men, 269 women). 93% of the patients suffered from heart failure. Despite the high number of patients with known heart failure (ischemic heart failure in 71%), only 72% received ACE inhibitors and 62% beta-blockers. Average daily dose met recommendations in only 63% of patients on ACE inhibitors and 54% on beta-blockers. 74% of the patients received diuretics (furosemide 36%, thiazide 34%, spironolactone 17%). CONCLUSION: An inadequately low number of patients with heart failure receives medical therapy according to guidelines, despite all the overwhelming evidence for improved morbidity and mortality. Awareness of physicians needs to be improved.
UNLABELLED: It was the aim of the Euro Heart Survey on Heart Failure to assess whether patients are being treated according to current guidelines. METHODS: In Germany, patients were screened in 7 medical centers if their discharge diagnoses were myocardial infarction, a new episode of atrial fibrillation, or diabetes mellitus. Patients were enrolled if at least one additional criterion was fulfilled: (1) clinical diagnosis of heart failure, (2) hospital admission due to heart failure within the last 3 years, (3) therapy with loop diuretic, (4) medication for heart failure or ventricular dysfunction documented by echocardiography within the past 24 hours prior to death. RESULTS: 2166 patients were screened of whom 747 were included in the study (478 men, 269 women). 93% of the patients suffered from heart failure. Despite the high number of patients with known heart failure (ischemic heart failure in 71%), only 72% received ACE inhibitors and 62% beta-blockers. Average daily dose met recommendations in only 63% of patients on ACE inhibitors and 54% on beta-blockers. 74% of the patients received diuretics (furosemide 36%, thiazide 34%, spironolactone 17%). CONCLUSION: An inadequately low number of patients with heart failure receives medical therapy according to guidelines, despite all the overwhelming evidence for improved morbidity and mortality. Awareness of physicians needs to be improved.
Authors: Marcus D Flather; Marcelo C Shibata; Andrew J S Coats; Dirk J Van Veldhuisen; Aleksandr Parkhomenko; Joszef Borbola; Alain Cohen-Solal; Dan Dumitrascu; Roberto Ferrari; Philippe Lechat; Jordi Soler-Soler; Luigi Tavazzi; Lenka Spinarova; Jiri Toman; Michael Böhm; Stefan D Anker; Simon G Thompson; Philip A Poole-Wilson Journal: Eur Heart J Date: 2005-01-09 Impact factor: 29.983
Authors: David N Juurlink; Muhammad M Mamdani; Douglas S Lee; Alexander Kopp; Peter C Austin; Andreas Laupacis; Donald A Redelmeier Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2004-08-05 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: M Komajda; F Follath; K Swedberg; J Cleland; J C Aguilar; A Cohen-Solal; R Dietz; A Gavazzi; W H Van Gilst; R Hobbs; J Korewicki; H C Madeira; V S Moiseyev; I Preda; J Widimsky; N Freemantle; J Eastaugh; J Mason Journal: Eur Heart J Date: 2003-03 Impact factor: 29.983
Authors: C Zugck; J Franke; G Gelbrich; L Frankenstein; T Scheffold; S Pankuweit; H D Duengen; V Regitz-Zagrosek; B Pieske; T Neumann; M Rauchhaus; C E Angermann; H A Katus; G E Ertl; S Störk Journal: Clin Res Cardiol Date: 2011-12-03 Impact factor: 5.460
Authors: R Reibis; C Dovifat; R Dissmann; B Ehrlich; S Schulz; K Stolze; K Wegscheider; H Völler Journal: Clin Res Cardiol Date: 2006-01-19 Impact factor: 5.460
Authors: D Phelan; L Smyth; M Ryder; N Murphy; C O'Loughlin; C Conlon; M Ledwidge; K McDonald Journal: Ir J Med Sci Date: 2009-05-01 Impact factor: 1.568
Authors: F Peters-Klimm; T Müller-Tasch; D Schellberg; A Remppis; A Barth; N Holzapfel; J Jünger; W Herzog; J Szecsenyi Journal: Clin Res Cardiol Date: 2007-11-28 Impact factor: 5.460