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Inequalities in the Access to Advanced Therapy in Heart Failure
Douglas Greig1, Gabriel Olivares1
1Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, P Universidad Católica de Chile, Hospital Clínico UC, 367 Marcoleta St. 8th floor, Santiago 8330024, Chile.
Insights
Heart failure (HF) poses a global health challenge. Access to advanced HF therapies in Chile is limited for patients due to high costs and specialized care access issues, serving as a model for developing nations.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Public Health
- Health Economics
Background:
- Heart failure (HF) is a significant global health issue with high morbidity and mortality rates.
- Prevalence in industrialized nations ranges from 1.5% to 2.7%.
- Chile, a developing Latin American economy, faces challenges in advanced HF therapy access.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the primary obstacles hindering access to advanced heart failure therapies in Chile.
- To utilize Chile as a case study representing challenges in developing countries.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and analysis of existing data on HF therapy access in Chile.
- Examination of economic and healthcare system factors influencing treatment accessibility.
Main Results:
- High costs of advanced therapies are a major barrier.
- Limited availability of timely and adequate evaluation by heart failure specialists restricts access.
- These factors collectively impede optimal patient care in Chile.
Conclusions:
- Chile's situation highlights systemic issues in accessing advanced HF treatments within developing economies.
- Addressing cost and specialist access is crucial for improving HF outcomes in similar regions.
Abstract:
At present, heart failure (HF) is a worldwide problem, characterized by a high morbidity and mortality. In industrialized countries or regions, such as the United States, Canada, and western European countries, HF has a prevalence of 1.5% to 2.7%. Chile represents a growing economy in Latin America; however, the relatively high cost of more advanced therapies, in addition to other variables (ie, adequate and timely evaluation by HF specialists), makes access difficult for patients with HF. In this article, the authors review the principal difficulties in accessing advanced HF therapies in Chile, as a model of developing country.
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