慢性心力衰竭患者医院与社区联合规范化管理的效果评价

目的:探讨医院与社区联合对慢性心力衰竭(CHF)患者进行规范化管理的效果和管理模式的可行性。方法:以上海市普陀区下辖的10个社区作为研究基地,计划入选2009年9月~2011年3月于上海市普陀区中心医院就诊的NYHA心功能分级Ⅱ~Ⅳ级的CHF患者120例,以社区为基本单元,采用随机分组方法,将其分为干预组(共5个社区,59例患者)和普通随访组(共5个社区,57例患者)。干预组由中心医院对社区医生进行规范化心衰诊疗培训,由社区医生对患者进行管理,同时由区中心医院定期举办心衰(HF)知识讲座和HF自我管理教育;普通随访组进行常规门诊随访。观察两组患者18个月后HF知晓率、规范化药物使用率、日常生活管理、心功能改善情况、心脏事件、再次住院率、平均住院天数有无显著差异;观察干预组干预前后HF知晓率、规范化药物使用率、日常生活管理和心功能情况有无显著差异。结果:两组患者的基线特征无统计学差异。接受规范化管理后,干预组与普通随访组比较:HF知晓率(100%vs.81%,P0.05)、规范化服药率[利尿剂(92%vs.54%,P0.05)、β受体阻滞剂(95%vs.58%,P0.05)、血管紧张素转换酶抑制剂(ACEI)/血管紧张素受体阻滞剂(ARB)(93%vs.58%,P0.05)]、自我日常生活管理率[限盐、控制饮食(92%vs.25%,P0.05)、戒烟(52%vs.25%,P0.05)、适量运动(51%vs.18%,P0.05)、监测血压心率(93%vs.23%,P0.05)]、左室射血分数(LVEF)[(47±4)%vs.(42±6)%,P0.05]、NYHA心功能Ⅰ~Ⅱ级(68%vs.49%,P0.05)]、再次住院率(34%vs.54%,P0.05)、住院天数[(8.3±2.2)d vs.(9.2±2.1)d,P0.05]均有显著差异,两组心脏事件发生率(8%vs.9%)无统计学差异;干预组试验后均优于试验前。结论:医院与社区相结合的CHF规范化防治的管理模式是一种有效可行的方式,可以提高患者对疾病的认知率,规范化服药率和自我管理能力,降低再次住院率,缩短住院天数,从而获得较好的社会经济效益。     

无缝式社区管理用于老年慢性心力衰竭患者的效果观察

目的：观察社区-医院一体化管理模式对老年慢性心力衰竭（CHF）患者及家属健康教育达标率的影响和对患者生活质量的改善情况。方法：将社区内普查出的老年CHF患者按居住区域分为干预组和对照组,比较两组患者经过两年不同的处理方法后各项观察指标的差异。结果：干预组患者经过2年的社区-医院一体化管理模式的干预,在服药依从性、患者及家属的健康教育达标率、生活质量等方面,均优于单纯药物治疗的对照组患者,统计学差异显著（P〈0．01）,干预组再住院率显著低于对照组（27％vs．76％,P〈0．01）。结论：社区-医院一体化管理可以明显提高老年CHF患者的服药依从性、改善生活质量,提高患者及家属的健康教育达标率。     

Precipitating factors leading to decompensation of chronic heart failure in the elderly patient in South-American community hospital

Background Exacerbations of heart failure appear frequently associated with precipitating factors not directly related to the evolution of cardiac disease. There still a paucity of data on the proportional distribution of precipitating factors specifically in elderly patients. The aim of this study was to examine prospectively the precipitating factors leading to hospitalization in elderly patients with heart failure in our community hospital. Methods We evaluate elderly patients who need admissions for decompensate heart failure. All patients were reviewed daily by the study investigators at the first 24 h and closely followed-up. Decompensation was defined as the worsening in clinical NYHA class associated with the need for an increase in medical treatment (at minimum intravenously diuretics). Results We included 102 patients (mean age 79 ± 12 years). Precipitating factors were identified in 88.5%. The decompensation was sudden in 35% of the cases. Noncompliance with diet was identified in 52% of the patients, lack of adherence to the prescribed medications amounted to 30%. Others precipitating factors were infections (29%), arrhythmias (25%), acute coronary ischemia (22%), and uncontrolled hypertension (15%), miscellaneous causes were detected in 18% of the cases (progression of renal disease 60%, anemia 30% and iatrogenic factors 10%). Concomitant cause was not recognizable in 11.5%. Conclusions Large proportion heart failure hospitalizations are associated with preventable precipitating factors. Knowledge of potential precipitating factors may help to optimize treatment and provide guidance for patients with heart failure. The presence of potential precipitating factors should be routinely evaluated in patients presenting chronic heart failure.     

Management of chronic heart failure in the older population

Chronic heart failure （CHF） is the leading cause of hospitalization for those over the age of 65 and represents a significant clinical and economic burden. About half of hospital re-admissions are related to co-morbidities, polypharmacy and disabilities associated with CHF. Moreover, CHF also has an enormous cost in terms of poor prognosis with an average one year mortality of 33%–35%. While more than half of patients with CHF are over 75 years, most clinical trials have included younger patients with a mean age of 61 years. Inadequate data makes treatment decisions challenging for the providers. Older CHF patients are more often female, have less cardiovascular diseases and associated risk factors, but higher rates of non-cardiovascular conditions and diastolic dysfunction. The prevalence of CHF with reduced ejection fraction, ischemic heart disease, and its risk factors declines with age, whereas the prevalence of non-cardiac co-morbidities, such as chronic renal failure, dementia, anemia and malignancy increases with age. Diabetes and hypertension are among the strongest risk factors as predictors of CHF particularly among women with coronary heart disease. This review paper will focus on the specific consideration for CHF assessment in the older population. Management strategies will be reviewed, including non-pharmacologic, pharmacologic, quality care indicators, quality improvement in care transition and lastly, end-of-life issues. Palliative care should be an integral part of an interdiscipli-nary team approach for a comprehensive care plan over the whole disease trajectory. In addition, frailty contributes valuable prognostic in-sight incremental to existing risk models and assists clinicians in defining optimal care pathways for their patients.     

Management of chronic congestive heart failure in children

Opinion statement The medical management of congestive heart failure involves manipulating myocardial contractility and loading conditions to achieve optimal performance. Medication may be used to counteract potentially deleterious neurohumoral changes that are associated with congestive heart failure. When appropriate, the correction of the underlying cardiac defect by surgery or catheter intervention is usually the most effective treatment for congestive heart failure in children.     

Use of medical resources and quality of life of patients with chronic heart failure: a prospective survey in a large Italian community hospital

AIMS: To assess the prevalence, clinical characteristics, use of medical resources and quality of life in consecutive patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) hospitalized in a large community hospital during 3 months. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study group included 354 patients with CHF, admitted in the Departments of Internal Medicine (97%) and Cardiology. Median age was 78 years [72;85], 45% were males. CHF was the main diagnosis in 72%; 28% were in NYHA class III and 49% in class IV; 42% had atrial fibrillation. The median hospital stay was 8 days [5;14], in-hospital mortality 9% in those admitted for CHF and 19% in those admitted primarily for other diseases. Patients with CHF occupied 15% of the beds; 1330 ECGs, 389 chest X-rays, 112 echocardiograms and 10 coronary angiograms were performed. A quality of life questionnaire revealed that 82% had problems with mobility, 54% with self-care and 88% with everyday activity. Thirty-nine percent of patients had at least one hospitalization during the previous year. CONCLUSIONS: Ninety-seven percent of hospitalized patients with CHF are admitted in the Internal Medicine wards and occupy 15% of beds. The majority of the patients are 72 years or older, with severe heart failure. The frequency of rehospitalization(s) and mortality rate in this population remains high. Echocardiography is performed only in 27% of patients.     

Use of a clinical care map for the management of congestive heart failure in a community hospital

BACKGROUND. Managed care rewards those individuals and institutions capable of achieving superior patient outcomes while making wise use of limited resources. However, studies of patient outcomes under these circumstances are lacking. We sought to investigate whether decreasing length of stay and limiting resource utilization had a negative effect on objective measurements of patient outcome for patients with congestive heart failure. METHODS. Guided by studies of evidence-based medicine, a multidisciplinary team developed and implemented a clinical care multidisciplinary action plan for the inpatient management of congestive heart failure. This provided practitioners with a target length of hospital stay, projections for daily improvements based on intervention, guidelines for diagnostic studies and medical therapy, early identification of patients with special discharge needs, and intensive patient education. RESULTS. Shorter lengths of stay for patients with congestive heart failure were achieved without negatively impacting on mortality or readmission rates. The study found a trend in favor of greater utilization of appropriate medical therapy despite shorter hospitalization. CONCLUSION. The use of a clinical care map for management of complex medical illnesses can be associated with shorter hospital stay without sacrificing patient outcomes. (c)2001 by CHF, Inc.     

Direct access exercise electrocardiography: a new service that improves the management of suspected ischaemic heart disease in the community.

OBJECTIVE--To assess the safety and value of an exercise electrocardiography service for the diagnosis of suspected ischaemic heart disease to which general practitioners have direct access. DESIGN--Direct access to a hospital exercise electrocardiography service was offered on a trial basis to 122 general practitioners in a defined urban area. Maximal exercise tests were performed according to the modified Bruce protocol and the results were dispatched promptly to the referring doctors who were responsible for the subsequent management of their patients. SETTING--All general practices in north and west Belfast (combined list size about 180,000) and the regional medical cardiology centre. PATIENTS--212 request forms were received in a two year period and 192 eligible patients attended for exercise testing. All patients were suspected to have pain due to myocardial ischaemia, were aged < or = 65, and had no contraindications to exercise testing. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Proportion of general practitioners who used the service. Proportion of exercise tests that were positive. Referring doctors' assessment of the service. RESULTS--43% of general practitioners referred patients and 34 tests (18%) were positive. No complications occurred. The pretest likelihood of ischaemic heart disease, assessed by the referring doctor, was high in 48 (25%), moderate in 82 (43%), and low in 62 (32%). A high pretest likelihood of ischaemic heart disease predicted a positive test result with a sensitivity of 50% and specificity of 80%. General practitioners decided to refer 19 (10%) patients to a hospital cardiology department for further assessment, including 16 of the 34 who had a positive exercise test. In most cases the service was found to be helpful and 97% of patients would have been referred directly to a hospital cardiology clinic if it had not been available. CONCLUSIONS--Direct access exercise electrocardiography for patients with suspected ischaemic heart disease is safe, feasible, and helpful to general practitioners. This service seems to reduce the number of patients referred to cardiology outpatient clinics and to facilitate the management of these patients in the community.     

Management protocols for chronic heart failure in India

Heart failure is a common clinical syndrome and a global health priority. The burden of heart failure is increasing at an alarming rate worldwide as well as in India. Heart failure not only increases the risk of mortality, morbidity and worsens the patient’s quality of life, but also puts a huge burden on the overall healthcare system. The management of heart failure has evolved over the years with the advent of new drugs and devices. This document has been developed with an objective to provide standard management guidance and simple heart failure algorithms to aid Indian clinicians in their daily practice. It would also inform the clinicians on the latest evidence in heart failure and provide guidance to recognize and diagnose chronic heart failure early and optimize management.     

The role of diuretics in the treatment of chronic heart failure

Altered renal function with renal NaCl-retention can be observed early in the course of congestive heart failure. The afferent pathway of this altered regulation involves changes occurring in the high pressure system as a consequence of foreward failure such as an increase in baroreceptor reflex activity. Efferent pathways may include the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, the sympathetic nervous system, prostaglandins, dopamine, ANF, and AVP. At present, the relative importance of these systems in mediating renal NaCl-retention in heart failure is still unclear. Expansion of the extracellular fluid volume as a consequence of renal NaCl-retention may, at least acutely, compensate for compromised myocardial function via the Frank-Starling mechanism. As a consequence of volume expansion, chronically increased cardiac preload and possibly afterload may however even aggravate cardiac failure. Diuretics may therefore induce variable effects in patients with congestive heart failure. Acutely, they may ameliorate symptoms of congestion in spite of the possibility of a further decrease in cardiac index. Chronically, they may reduce cardiac pre- and afterload. Through a variety of mechanisms, they may therefore increase cardiac performance in spite of a fall in filling pressures.