Post-COVID-19 era heart failure diagnosis and outcomes: adherence to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Guidelines.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Heart failure (HF) is common with high associated morbidity and mortality. UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Guidelines suggest prioritising assessment by natriuretic peptide (NP) level, with patients with high NP levels assessed within 2 weeks. We evaluated adherence to NICE guidelines in the post-COVID-19 era.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective audit of consecutive referrals to a HF diagnostic pathway across seven hospitals in the West of Scotland (between 5 January and 2 June 2022). Patients were categorised by NP level according to NICE Guidelines: NT-proBNP 400-2000 ng/L (echocardiogram within 6 weeks) or >2000 ng/L (echocardiogram within 2 weeks). Time-to-echocardiogram was recorded, and 1-year outcomes (HF hospitalisation, dea

SUBMITTER: Razzaq UB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12815017 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature