Epidemiology and treatment of heart failure in Spain: the HF-PATHWAYS study

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Heart failure (HF) is a major public health concern with significant morbidity and mortality.
• Understanding the epidemiology and treatment patterns of HF in contemporary, large-scale populations is crucial for effective healthcare strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the epidemiology, including prevalence and incidence, of heart failure (HF) in a large, population-based cohort.
• To analyze the treatment patterns and medication administration for patients with HF, particularly focusing on HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Main Methods:

• An observational, retrospective, population-based study was conducted using the BIG-PAC database.
• Data from 19,762 patients aged ≥ 18 years seeking care for HF between 2017 and 2019 were analyzed.
• Key variables included prevalence/incidence rates, comorbidities, clinical data, and medication use.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of HF in 2019 was 1.89%, with an incidence rate of 2.78 new cases per 1000 persons/year.
• Prevalence and incidence remained stable between 2017 and 2019.
• In HFrEF patients, guideline-directed medical therapy uptake was: beta-blockers (64%), ACEI/ARB/ARNI (80.5%), and aldosterone antagonists (29.8%). Treatment optimization was observed within the first 3-6 months post-diagnosis.

Conclusions:

• Epidemiological data for HF in this population cohort were stable and showed a lower prevalence compared to non-population-based studies.
• There is substantial opportunity to improve the optimization of medical treatment for patients with HFrEF.
• Continued monitoring and intervention are necessary to enhance HF management.