Does specialist review for patients with suspected heart failure predict better outcomes? An observational study on the utility of compliance with NICE guidelines.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES:Compare outcomes in patients with suspected heart failure (HF) and raised natriuretic peptides who are reviewed in a specialist HF clinic in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines (compliant group) versus patients who are not reviewed in the clinic (non-compliant group). DESIGN:Retrospective observational study. SETTING:Single large UK district general hospital. PARTICIPANTS:567 consecutive patients in primary care with raised N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) levels (>400 pg/mL) from February to September 2014. INTERVENTIONS:161 (28%) patients were referred to the specialist HF clinic and 406 (72%) were not. Outcomes were compared between the two groups. OUTCOME MEASURES:All-cause and cardiovascular (CV) hospitalisation

SUBMITTER: Morton G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6112396 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature