How and where do patients get their diagnosis of heart failure in England?

What is it about?

Patients with heart failure can present in different ways, and the condition can be hard to diagnose, especially in primary care when the patient also has other medical problems. There are clinical (NICE) guidelines for GPs, but we found that only one in four patients followed this recommended pathway. More than three in four patients got their diagnosis during an emergency admission to hospital, although most had seen their GP in the previous year.

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Why is it important?

At least half a million people are known to have heart failure in the UK - and 40 million worldwide - with many more likely undiagnosed. Early diagnosis improves outcomes but can be difficult. How heart failure patients are managed and diagnosed had not been fully described in England before. We reveal low compliance with NICE guidelines and potential opportunities for earlier diagnosis.