Suspected de novo heart failure in outpatient care: the REVOLUTION HF study
👤 Authors: Lisa Anderson, Antoni Bayes-Genis, Johan Bodegård, Katrina Mullin, Stefan Gustafsson, Giuseppe M C Rosano, Johan Sundström
ABSTRACT:
Summary of study:
The study aimed to investigate the outcomes, healthcare patterns, and costs related to suspected de novo heart failure (patients experiencing it for the first time). Patients were selected based on presenting with signs or symptoms of HF.
Patients:
The study included 5942 patients with a median age of 78.7 years and 54% women.
A significant portion of patients had comorbidities, including hypertension (82%), chronic kidney disease (49%), and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (40%).
Main findings:
Patients with suspected de novo heart failure face much higher risks of morbidity and mortality. The danger increases with higher NT-proBNP levels (which can be detected in a simple blood test). Early detection is crucial!
Healthcare Resources:
Over half of the patients with elevated NT-proBNP were admitted to inpatient care within a year. Echocardiograms were not always promptly performed, and the median time to an echocardiogram was 40 days, showing a delay in confirming the diagnosis.
A Need for Rapid Diagnosis:
Patients with suspected de novo HF face high risks of adverse outcomes, which emphasises the need for rapid diagnosis. Quick identification, aided by biomarkers like NT-proBNP, could improve patient outcomes and ease the healthcare burden associated with HF.