Health literacy and prognosis of heart failure: a prospective propensity-matched study in the community.

AIMS: Health literacy (HL), the ability to obtain and understand health information, is critical to self-care in chronic disorders. A low HL is common among these patients and has been associated with a worse prognosis. Nevertheless, the relationship between HL and the prognosis of heart failure (HF) with reduced (HFrEF) vs. preserved (HFpEF) ejection fraction remains unsettled. To analyse the relationship between HL and the prognosis of patients with incident HFrEF and HFpEF. METHODS AND RESULTS: Prospective study over 10 years (2010-19) on 6444 patients diagnosed with incident HF. The main outcomes were mortality, hospitalizations, and visits to emergency services. The independent relationship between HL and the prognosis, stratifying patients for cardiovascular comorbidity after propensity score-matching was analysed.After matching 5355 HF patients, 1785 with low HL (874 with HFrEF and 911 with HFpEF) vs. 3570 with adequate HL (1748 with HFrEF and 1822 with HFpEF), during a median follow-up of 5.41 years, 3874 patients died (72.3%) and 3699 patients were hospitalized (69.1%). After adjustment for potential confounders, an adequate HL was associated with a lower all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, less hospitalizations, and less 30-day readmissions [relative risk (RR) for HF <0.72 (0.66-0.86), RR for HFrEF <0.69 (0.63-0.95), and RR for HFpEF <0.62 (0.55-0.88), P < 0.001 in all cases], both for patients with HFrEF and HFpEF. Analyses of recurrent hospitalizations gave larger HL effects than time-to-first-event analyses. CONCLUSIONS: In this propensity-matched study, a low HL is associated with a worse prognosis of patients with incident HFrEF and HFpEF.

Prognosis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction treated with ß-blockers: A propensity matched study in the community.

BACKGROUND: The effect of treatment with ß-blockers on the prognosis of patients newly diagnosed with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship of commencing treatment with the ß-blockers bisoprolol or carvedilol (CT-ßB) with the prognosis of newly diagnosed HFpEF. METHODS: Prospective study over 10years on 2704 patients with HFpEF. Main outcomes were mortality (all-cause and cardiovascular), hospitalizations for HF worsening, and visits. The independent relationship between CT-ßB and the prognosis, stratifying patients for cardiovascular co-morbidity after propensity score-matching (985 patients CT-ßB vs. another 985 patients non-CT-ßB), was analyzed. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 1877.4days (interquartile range, 1-3651.2) 1600 died (81.2%), and 1702 were hospitalized (86.4%). CT-ßB was associated with a lower risk of mortality (all-cause: HR [CI 95%] 0.78 [0.71 to 0.85], and cardiovascular: 0.75 [0.69 to 0.82]), a lower hospitalization rate (per 100 persons-year), 15.8 vs. 19.2, and a lower 30-day readmission rate (per 100 persons-year), 4.0 vs. 5.8, (P<0.001 in all cases), even after adjustment for the propensity to take ß-blockers or other medications, comorbidities, and other potential confounders. These effects of CT-ßB were independent of gender, and were observed in both patients taking high dose ßB (over the median dose) and lower dose ßB (under or equal to the median dose). CONCLUSIONS: In this propensity matched study, commencing treatment with bisoprolol or carvedilol, both at high and at lower doses, is associated with an improved prognosis of patients newly diagnosed with HFpEF.

Mortality and morbidity of newly diagnosed heart failure with preserved systolic function treated with ß-blockers: a propensity-adjusted case-control populational study.

BACKGROUND: The effect of treatment with ß-blockers on the prognosis of patients newly diagnosed with heart failure with preserved systolic function (HF-PSF) is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the relationship of commencing treatment with the ß-blockers bisoprolol or carvedilol (CT-ßB) with the mortality and the morbidity of newly diagnosed HF-PSF. METHODS: Prospective propensity-adjusted cohort study over 5 years on 1085 adults diagnosed with HF-PSF for the first time, in an integrated university-based health organization in Spain. The independent relationship between CT-ßB and mortality and morbidity was analyzed, stratifying patients for comorbidity, after a multivariable adjustment for potential confounders. RESULTS: The 378 patients (34.8%) who CT-ßB were more frequently older women, with more cardiovascular comorbidity. Of the total patients 554 (51.0%) died, and 711 (65.5%) were hospitalized. Using an intent-to-treat approach, CT-ßB was associated with a lower risk of mortality (all-cause: RR [CI 95%] 0.37 [0.21 to 0.50], and cardiovascular: 0.31 [0.18 to 0.45]), and a lower age- and sex-adjusted hospitalization rate (per 100 persons/year), 13.6 vs. 19.2, (P<0.001 in all cases), even after adjustment for the propensity to take ß-blockers, or other medications, comorbidities, and other potential confounders. CONCLUSIONS: In this observational study, commencing treatment with the ß-blockers bisoprolol or carvedilol is associated with a reduced mortality and morbidity of patients with newly diagnosed heart failure with preserved systolic function.

Mortality and morbidity of non-systolic heart failure treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors: a propensity-adjusted case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The effect of treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) on the prognosis of patients newly diagnosed with heart failure with preserved systolic function (HF-PSF) is unclear. We evaluate the relationship of commencing ACEI therapy (C-ACEI-T) with the morbidity and mortality of patients with HF-PSF. METHODS: Prospective propensity-adjusted cohort study over 5 years on 1120 adults diagnosed with HF-PSF for the first time, within an integrated health organization in Spain. We analyzed the independent relationship between C-ACEI-T and mortality, and morbidity, stratifying patients according to comorbidity, after a multivariable adjustment for potential confounders. RESULTS: The 865 patients (77.2%) who C-ACEI-T were younger, with more cardiovascular comorbidity. During the median follow-up of 908.3 days (interquartile range 558.6-1302.0) 580 patients (51.8%) died, and 727 (64.9%) were hospitalized. Using an intention-to-treat analysis, C-ACEI-T was associated with a lower risk of all-cause (RR [CI 95%] 0.34 [0.23 to 0.46]), and cardiovascular (RR 0.28 [0.20 to 0.36]) mortality, and a lower age- and sex-adjusted rate of hospitalization (per 100 persons-year), 12.3 vs. 19.4, (P<0.001 in all cases), even after adjustment for the propensity to take ACEIs, or other medications, comorbidities, and other potential confounders. CONCLUSION: In this prospective observational study the establishment of ACEI therapy is associated with a reduced mortality and morbidity of patients with newly diagnosed non-systolic heart failure.

Mortality and morbidity of newly diagnosed heart failure treated with statins: a propensity-adjusted cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The effect of treatment with statins on the prognosis of newly diagnosed heart failure (ndHF) is not established. We evaluate the relationship of commencing treatment with statins (CTS) with the mortality and the morbidity of ndHF, systolic (HF-DSF) and non-systolic (HF-PSF). METHODS: Prospective propensity-adjusted cohort study over 5 years on 2573 patients with ndHF. The main outcomes were all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, hospitalizations and visits. We analyze the independent relationship of CTS with the mortality and the morbidity, stratifying patients for cardiovascular co-morbidity, after adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: 1343 patients (52.2%) CTS, 1071 (39.5%) died, and 1729 (67.2%) were hospitalized. CTS was associated not only with a lower mortality: RR for HF-overall (CI 95%) 0.23 (0.10 to 0.36), RR for HF-PSF 0.34 (0.21 to 0.47), and RR for HF-DSF 0.20 (0.09 to 0.31), but with dose-dependency (statin>20 mg/day vs. statin<=20 mg/day): RR for HF-overall 0.49 (0.33 to 0.67), RR for HF-PSF 0.53 (0.39 to 0.70), and RR for HF-DSF 0.37 (0.26 to 0.52), and with a lower rate of hospitalization (per 100 persons-year): HF-overall (13.3 vs. 18.2), HF-PSF (13.9 vs. 19.7), and HF-DSF (12.7 vs. 16.6), (P<0.001 in all cases), even after adjustment for the propensity to take statins, or other medications, and other potential confounders. CONCLUSION: The commencement of treatment with statins is associated with a dose-dependent reduction of the mortality and of the morbidity of patients with ndHF (systolic or non-systolic).

Consultation between specialists in Internal Medicine and Family Medicine improves management and prognosis of heart failure.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if consultation between specialists in Internal Medicine and family doctors (CIMFD) improves the clinical management and prognosis of patients with heart failure (HF). DESIGN: prospective case-control study (5 years of follow-up). SETTING: community-based sample within the area of a university teaching hospital. SUBJECTS: 1857 patients (> or = 14 years) diagnosed for the first time with HF (1stDxHF), in the CIMFD. CONTROL GROUP: 1981 patients (from health centres not covered by the CIMFD), 1stDxHF, in the external consultations of the hospital. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: mortality rate (MR). Admissions (HA). Emergency services visits (ESV). Delays in receiving specialist attention (DRSA), and the resolution of the process (DRP). Number (NTP) and delays in reporting (DTP) tests performed. Proportion (PRC) and delay (DRC) in resolving cases. RESULTS: We observed a reduction of: MR (by 10.8%, CI 95%, 8.6-13.0, p < 0.005); HA, per patient per year (ppy) (by 1.8, 1.3-2.3, p < 0.01); ESV, ppy (by 1.9, 1.2-2.6, p < 0.01); DRSA (by 26.5 days, 21.8-31.2, p < 0.001); DRP (by 21.0 days, 18.3-23.7, p < 0.001), and DRC (by 25.8 days, 20.3-31.4, p < 0.01). The PRC (17.2%, CI 95%, 15.5-18.9, p < 0.01) was higher for the CIMFD. CONCLUSION: The CIMFD approach improves prognosis and efficacy in the clinical management of patients with HF because it reduces mortality and morbidity (HA and ESV), shortens the delays in receiving care and in resolving the diagnostic and therapeutic process (DRSA, DRP, DRC), and increases the proportion of diagnosed and treated patients.