PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 404 - 22 Mar 2003

Cardiology care for HF warrantedCardiology care can significantly improve outcomes

for outpatients with new-onset heart failure (HF)compared with primary care, which is "likely to be due atleast in part to better adherence to guidelinerecommendations", say US-based researchers.

They retrospectively identified 403 such patients atthe northern California Kaiser Permanente Medical CareProgram and evaluated outcomes over a 2-year periodfor patients who had more than two office visits to acardiologist (n = 199), or who received primary careonly between July 1996 and August 1997. Measurementof ejection fraction, as recommended in practiceguidelines, was carried out for significantly morecardiology, than primary-care, patients (94% vs 74%).Moreover, cardiology patients were more likely toreceive digoxin, β-blockers and ACE-inhibitors within 6months of HF diagnosis than primary-care patients;lipid-modifying therapy was used by 23% of cardiologypatients, compared with 15% of primary-care patients.

In addition, cardiology patients were significantlymore likely than primary-care patients to be investigatedfor coronary artery disease or ischaemia as a possiblecause of HF (50% vs 30% of patients).Ansari M, et al. Cardiology participation improves outcomes in patients with new-onset heart failure in the outpatient setting. Journal of the American College ofCardiology 41: 62-68, 1 Jan 2003 800931232

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PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 22 Mar 2003 No. 4041173-5503/10/0404-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved