Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 10, 2026
Signal Acquisition, Score Interpretation, and Economics of a Non-Invasive Point-of-Care Test for Coronary Artery Disease
Published on: August 9, 2024
The heart failure pandemic: The clinical and economic burden in Greece
P Stafylas1, D Farmakis2, G Kourlaba3
1University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Insights
Heart failure (HF) in Greece has high annual mortality and rehospitalization rates, especially for hospitalized patients. This disease imposes a substantial economic burden, with most costs attributed to inpatient care, highlighting the need for better management strategies.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Public Health
- Health Economics
Background:
- Heart failure (HF) poses a significant health challenge globally and in Greece.
- Understanding the epidemiological and clinical profile of HF patients is crucial for effective management.
- Assessing the economic burden of HF is vital for healthcare resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of heart failure patients in Greece.
- To evaluate the economic burden and cost distribution associated with heart failure management.
- To provide insights for improving disease management and reducing hospital admissions.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, observational survey (ESC HF Pilot Survey) conducted across eight Greek cardiology centers.
- Inclusion of 307 heart failure patients (177 hospitalized, 130 outpatients) monitored for 12 months.
- Collection of clinical, epidemiological, mortality, hospitalization, and healthcare resource utilization data; economic evaluation from a social security perspective.
Main Results:
- Annual mortality rates were 24.3% for hospitalized vs. 7.7% for outpatients (P<0.001).
- Annual rehospitalization rates were 42.9% for hospitalized vs. 19.2% for outpatients (P<0.001).
- Mean annual economic burden per HF patient was €4411±4764, with ~2/3 due to inpatient care.
Conclusions:
- Despite advances, significant mortality and rehospitalization persist in HF patients, particularly those hospitalized.
- Kidney dysfunction, S3 gallop, and higher NYHA class are associated with worse survival.
- Effective drug treatments and efficient disease management programs are needed to reduce hospital admissions and associated costs.
Background:
The objective of this study was to identify the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of heart failure (HF) patients in Greece as well as the economic burden and the distribution of costs for the management of the disease.
Methods:
Eight Greek secondary and tertiary cardiology centres from different cities have participated in a prospective, observational survey, the ESC HF Pilot Survey. 307 patients with HF, 177 hospitalised and 130 outpatients, have been recruited and monitored for 12months. Clinical and epidemiological data, along with data on mortality, hospitalisations and health care resources used have been collected. The economic evaluation was conducted from the social security system perspective.
Results:
The annual mortality rate was 24.3% for the hospitalised patients vs 7.7% for the outpatients (P<0.001) and the annual rehospitalisation rate was 42.9% vs 19.2% respectively (P<0.001). Kaplan-Meier analyses revealed that patients with kidney dysfunction, S3 gallop and higher NYHA class have a significantly worse survival. The mean annual economic burden of the social security system per HF patient was estimated at €4411±4764. About two thirds of this cost is due to in-patient care.
Conclusions:
Despite the progress in the management of the disease, about one in four hospitalised patients dies and four in ten are rehospitalised in less than one year. Moreover, the disease imposes a significant economic burden for the social security system and national economy. Their findings suggest that there is still need of more effective drug treatment and efficient disease management programs focused in the reduction of the hospital admissions.
More Related Videos
13:07Optical Coherence Tomography Based Biomechanical Fluid-Structure Interaction Analysis of Coronary Atherosclerosis Progression
Published on: January 15, 2022
05:16Cutoff Value of Phase Angle by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis at Admission as a Prognostic Factor in Patients with Acute Heart Failure
Published on: June 10, 2025
Related Concept Videos
01:26Heart Failure III: Clinical Manifestations
01:17Pathophysiology of Heart Failure
01:27Heart Failure I: Introduction
01:29Cardiomyopathy V: Interprofessional Care
01:29Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
01:30Heart Failure VII: Nursing Interventions