Repository logo
 

Characteristics of Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction in Primary Care: Cross-sectional analysis

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Deaton, Mary 
Brimicombe, James 
Cheriyan, Joseph 
Edwards, Duncan 

Abstract

Background: Many patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) are undiagnosed, and UK general practice registers do not typically record HF sub-type. Improvements in management of HFpEF is dependent on improved identification and characterisation of patients in primary care.
Aims: To describe a cohort of patients recruited from primary care with suspected HFpEF and compare patients in whom HFpEF was confirmed and refuted. Design and Setting: Baseline data from a longitudinal cohort study of patients with suspected HFpEF recruited from primary care in two areas of England. Methods: A screening algorithm and review were used to find patients on HF registers without a record of reduced ejection fraction. Baseline evaluation included cardiac, mental and physical function, clinical characteristics and patient reported outcomes. Confirmation of HFpEF was clinically adjudicated by a cardiologist.
Results: Ninety-three (61%) of 152 patients were confirmed HFpEF. The mean age of patients with HFpEF was 79.3, 46% were female, 80% had hypertension, and 37% took 10 or more medications. Patients with HFpEF were more likely to be obese, pre-frail/frail, report more dyspnoea and fatigue, were more functionally impaired, and less active than patients in whom HFpEF was refuted. Few had attended cardiac rehabilitation. Conclusions: Patients with confirmed HFpEF had frequent multimorbidity, functional impairment, frailty and polypharmacy. Although comorbid conditions were similar between people with and without HFpEF, the former had more obesity, symptoms and worse physical function. These findings highlight the potential to optimise well-being through comorbidity management, medication rationalisation, rehabilitation, and supported self-management.

Description

Keywords

frailty, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, multimorbidity, primary health care

Journal Title

BJGP Open

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2398-3795
2398-3795

Volume Title

Publisher

Royal College of General Practitioners
Sponsorship
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (via University of Oxford) (SPCR R14)
National Institute for Health and Care Research (IS-BRC-1215-20014)
NIHR School for Primary Care Research NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre