Clinical profile and management of outpatients with non-ischemic and non-hypertensive systolic heart failure: Analysis of the Polish DATA-HELP registry.

BACKGROUND: Although coronary artery disease and arterial hypertension are the most common etiologies underlying heart failure (HF), there are still many patients present with non-ischemic and non-hypertensive HF whose management remains very challenging. In this research study the clinical profile and applied treatment of patients with HF without coronary artery disease or hypertension versus patients with known etiology of HF (ischemic/hypertensive) were compared. METHODS: Clinical data about 5563 patients with stable systolic HF were obtained from prospective multicenter DATA-HELP registry performed between October and December 2009 in ambulatory clinics in Poland, in which 500 cardiologists and 290 general practitioners participated. RESULTS: Heart failure of non-ischemic and non-hypertensive etiology which affected 10% of all patients and was particularly frequent in younger patients, both in women: < 50 years old 42%; 50-65 years old 12%; > 65 years old 7%; and men: < 50 years old 47%; 50-65 years old 10%; > 65 years old 5%; p < 0.0001. Patients with non-ischemic and non-hypertensive HF were characterized by younger age, fewer co-morbidities, shorter duration of HF and, surprisingly, more advanced HF. Patients in this group were less likely to have received life-prolonging treatment in HF recommended by European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and more often required symptomatic management. Similarly, they were more likely to have implanted CRT-D and ICD. CONCLUSIONS: Heart failure of non-ischemic and non-hypertensive origin affects particularly young patients. These patients, despite suffering from more advanced HF are not optimally managed according to ESC guidelines.

Comparison of clinical profile and management of outpatients with heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction treated by general practitioners and cardiologists in contemporary Poland: the results from the DATA-HELP registry.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine and compare clinical profile and management of outpatients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFREF) treated by cardiologists and general practitioners (GPs) in Poland. METHODS: All the 790 randomly selected cardiologists and GPs in the DATA-HELP registry, which included 5563 patients, filled out questionnaires about 10 consecutive outpatients with HFREF. RESULTS: Outpatients managed by GPs were older (69±10 vs 66±12 years), and the prevalence of men was less marked (58% vs 67%). They also had higher left ventricular ejection fraction (38±6% vs 35±8%) and had more pulmonary congestion (63% vs 49%) and peripheral oedema (66% vs 51%), compared with those treated by cardiologists (all p<0.001). Hypertension (74% vs 66%), previous stroke and/or transient ischaemic attack (21% vs 16%), diabetes (40% vs 30%), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (14% vs 11%) were more common in outpatients of GPs (all p<0.001). GPs were less likely to prescribe ß-blocker (95% vs 97%, p<0.01), mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) (56% vs 64%, p<0.001), and loop diuretic (61% vs 64%, p<0.05) or use PCI (33% vs 44%, p<0.001), CABG (11% vs 16%, p<0.001), ICD (4% vs 10%, p<0.001), or CRT (1% vs 5%, p<0.001). Prescription of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (94% vs 94%, p>0.2) and digoxin (20% vs 21%, p>0.2) by GPs and cardiologists was similar. CONCLUSION: In contemporary Poland, most outpatients with HFREF receive drugs that improve survival and undergo revascularisation procedures, although devices are rare, but the clinical profiles and management of those treated by GPs and cardiologists differ. Outpatients treated by GPs are older and have more co-morbidities. Outpatients treated by cardiologists more commonly receive ß-blocker, MRA, ICD, and CRT, and undergo coronary revascularisations.