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Heart failure treatment in Portuguese hospitals: results of a survey

F Ceia1, C Fonseca, D Brito

  • 1Serviço Universitário de Medicina I Faculdade de Ciências Médicas Universidade Nova de Lisboa E. Forte do Alto do Duque 1400 Lisboa, Portugal.

Revista Portuguesa De Cardiologia : Orgao Oficial Da Sociedade Portuguesa De Cardiologia = Portuguese Journal of Cardiology : an Official Journal of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology
|February 28, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Cardiologists and internists in Portugal show differences in managing heart failure (HF). Cardiology departments have more protocols and better echocardiography use than internal medicine, highlighting a need for improved in-hospital HF care.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Internal Medicine
  • Healthcare Management

Background:

  • Heart failure (HF) management in Europe involves primary care, cardiologists, and internists.
  • Discrepancies exist among specialists in HF knowledge, practice, and guideline adherence.
  • Optimal guideline implementation for HF remains a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare guideline implementation between cardiologists and internists in Portuguese hospitals.
  • To identify differences in diagnostic and treatment protocols for heart failure.
  • To explore suggestions for improving in-hospital HF patient care.

Main Methods:

  • A survey was conducted among directors of 83 hospital departments in Portugal.
  • The survey focused on diagnostic/treatment protocols, specialized management areas, and quality improvement suggestions.
  • Data was collected from cardiology and internal medicine departments.

Main Results:

  • Internists manage at least half of heart failure patients in Portuguese hospitals.
  • Treatment protocols are present in 25% of cardiology departments, but scarce in internal medicine.
  • Echocardiography use is high in cardiology, moderate in internal medicine; specialized HF units/nurses are lacking.
  • Cardiologists desire more specialization, while internists do not prioritize it.

Conclusions:

  • Significant disparities exist in heart failure management practices between cardiology and internal medicine departments in Portugal.
  • There is a clear need to enhance in-hospital heart failure treatment protocols and specialization.
  • Improving the quality of care for heart failure patients requires addressing these identified gaps.

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