[Snapshot evaluation of heart failure in Turkey: Baseline characteristics of SELFIE-TR]

Heart failure (HF) is an important health issue of the 21st century and the prevalence in Turkey has been reported as 2.9%. A national profile, frequency data, characteristics of different phenotypes, and risk factors have not yet been well established. The Snapshot Evaluation of Heart Failure Patients in Turkey (SELFIE-TR) was an analysis of a representative sample of HF patients from Turkey.

A total of 23 centers with at least 2 cardiologists from the 12 NUTS-1 regions of Turkey were invited to participate in the research. The contributing centers shared the data of a consecutive enrollment of HF patients, as confirmed by an investigator, on a pre-selected day of each week for the month of October or November of 2015.

The mean age of the entire cohort was 63.3+-13.3 years (male/female ratio: 751/303, 71.3%/28.7%). There were 712 acute HF patients and 342 chronic HF patients. The total number of HF patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), heart failure with mid-range ejection fraction, and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction was 801 (75%), 176 (16.7%), and 77 (7.3%), respectively. The patients with chronic HF were younger than those with acute HF (61.1+-13.3 years vs 67.9+-12.1 years; p<0.001). Among the whole cohort, hypertension was observed in 46%, diabetes mellitus was present in 27.5%, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was present in 12.8%, and previous myocardial infarction was noted in 45.2%. In patients with HFrEF, the use of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker, a beta blocker, or a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist was noted in 74.7%, 89.7%, and 60.9%, respectively.

The SELFIE-TR findings provide important insight, since it is the first study to make a snapshot of HF patients in our country. These data may help to create standardized prevention and treatment strategies.