Risk stratification in acute heart failure: rationale and design of the STRATIFY and DECIDE studies.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A critical challenge for physicians facing patients presenting with signs and symptoms of acute heart failure (AHF) is how and where to best manage them. Currently, most patients evaluated for AHF are admitted to the hospital, yet not all warrant inpatient care. Up to 50% of admissions could be potentially avoided and many admitted patients could be discharged after a short period of observation and treatment. Methods for identifying patients that can be sent home early are lacking. Improving the physician's ability to identify and safely manage low-risk patients is essential to avoiding unnecessary use of hospital beds.

Methods

Two studies (STRATIFY and DECIDE) have been funded by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute with the goal of developing prediction

SUBMITTER: Collins SP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3511776 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature