Related Experiment Videos

Heart failure in the family practice: a study of the prevalence and co-morbidity

Montserrat Carmona1, Luis M García-Olmos, Angel Alberquilla

  • 1Unidad de Bioingeniería y Telemedicina, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro, Majadahonda, Spain. moncarmona@gmail.com

Family Practice
|October 28, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Heart failure (HF) is common in primary care, affecting over 60% of patients with multiple chronic diseases. This highlights challenges in managing HF alongside other conditions in family medicine settings.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Primary Care Medicine
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Heart failure (HF) disproportionately affects the elderly.
  • HF onset is often linked with other chronic diseases, complicating healthcare.
  • Managing HF presents significant challenges for healthcare services.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of heart failure (HF) in family medicine practices.
  • To describe the chronic comorbidities associated with HF in this population.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional, observational descriptive study was conducted in the Community of Madrid, Spain.
  • Data were collected from 198,670 individuals over 14 years old, attended by 129 family medicine specialists.
  • HF was identified via ICPC code K77 in electronic medical records; association with 25 chronic diseases was analyzed.

Main Results:

  • The prevalence of HF was 6.9‰ (7.9‰ in women, 5.9‰ in men).
  • HF patients exhibited high comorbidity, averaging 5.2 ± 2.1 chronic diseases.
  • Only 3% of HF patients had isolated HF; over 60% had ≥4 additional chronic conditions. Hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and diabetes mellitus were most frequent.

Conclusions:

  • Heart failure patients frequently utilize family physician services.
  • These patients present with substantial cardiac and non-cardiac comorbidities.
  • Managing HF with multiple comorbidities poses clinical and organizational challenges for healthcare.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Heart Failure I: Introduction01:27

Heart Failure I: Introduction

Heart failure refers to a clinical syndrome caused by structural or functional cardiac disorders that prevent the heart from pumping an adequate amount of blood to meet the body's metabolic needs. This condition often arises from myocardial infarction or ischemia, leading to decreased cardiac output, reduced tissue perfusion, impaired gas exchange, fluid volume imbalance, and decreased functional ability.Heart failure can result from disruptions in the mechanisms that regulate cardiac output...
Heart Failure VII: Nursing Interventions01:30

Heart Failure VII: Nursing Interventions

The first step in nursing management of a patient with heart failure involves thoroughly assessing the patient's medical history.Subjective Data: Obtain the patient's medical history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, myocardial infarction, and symptoms like dyspnea, orthopnea, and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea.Objective Data: Conduct a physical examination to identify findings such as jugular vein distention, pulmonary crackles, tachycardia, murmurs, peripheral edema, and vital signs,...
Heart Failure III: Clinical Manifestations01:26

Heart Failure III: Clinical Manifestations

Heart failure (HF) manifests primarily as dyspnea, fatigue, and fluid retention, resulting in peripheral and pulmonary edema. Symptoms may vary depending on which ventricle is more affected, left or right.Left-Sided Heart FailureAlso known as left ventricular failure, this condition results from the left ventricle's inability to fill or eject sufficient blood into the systemic circulation. It leads to pulmonary congestion, which occurs when the left ventricle fails to eject blood effectively...
Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology01:29

Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology

Systolic Heart Failure and Compensatory MechanismsSystolic heart failure (also termed HFrEF, Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction) is the most prevalent type of heart filure. It results in a decreased volume of blood being pumped from the ventricle. The aortic arch and carotid sinuses have baroreceptors that detect reduced blood pressure, triggering the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to release epinephrine and norepinephrine. Initially, this response aims to boost heart rate and...
Pathophysiology of Heart Failure01:17

Pathophysiology of Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is a progressive syndrome involving ventricles that leads to inadequate cardiac output. It can be classified based on location and output or ejection fraction. Ejection fraction (EF) is an essential measurement in the diagnosis and surveillance of HF. Reduced EF corresponds to systolic heart failure (HFrEF). However, HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is becoming increasingly prevalent. Also known as diastolic HF, this form of HF is related to aging. The...
Heart Failure V: Medical Management01:30

Heart Failure V: Medical Management

Medical Management of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (ADHF)The primary goals of therapy for patients hospitalized with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) include:Relieving symptomsOptimizing volume statusSupporting oxygenation and ventilationMaintaining cardiac output (CO) and end-organ perfusionIdentifying and addressing the cause of ADHFPreventing complicationsProviding patient education on factors precipitating HF exacerbationPlanning for dischargeOngoing monitoring and assessment...