Health inequalities and trends in heart failure diagnosis in primary care in England, 2000-21: a national retrospective cohort data-linkage study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Heart failure is often diagnosed during unplanned admission to hospital, which is associated with poor outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine the potential for early heart failure identification in primary care, trends in diagnostic practices, sociodemographic inequalities, and the association between diagnostic pathways and outcomes.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Adults aged 18 years or older with newly diagnosed heart failure were identified from linked primary care and hospital records in England between Jan 1, 2000, and March 31, 2021. From primary care records, we analysed heart failure indicators (ie, breathlessness, ankle swelling, and loop diuretic use) recorded up to 5 years before

SUBMITTER: Lawson CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12728148 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature