From Awareness to Implementation: Bridging Gaps in Heart Failure Care in Korea—Insights From KNOW-HF

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Editorial. Population: Heart failure (n=543). Intervention: Cardiology specialty vs. Primary care specialty. Primary outcome: Echocardiography use for heart failure diagnosis.

Su Yeon Lee

doi:10.36628/ijhf.2026.0017

January 1, 2026International Journal of Heart FailureOpen Access

From Awareness to Implementation: Bridging Gaps in Heart Failure Care in Korea—Insights From KNOW-HF

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Share

Key Points

Substantial care disparities persist between specialists and primary care clinicians in heart failure diagnosis, delaying guideline-directed medical therapy initiation.
Primary care clinicians utilized echocardiography at only 61% versus 97% for specialists, demonstrating major diagnostic testing gaps for heart failure confirmation.
Cross-sectional online survey of 543 physicians evaluated clinical awareness and testing practices, uncovering suboptimal natriuretic peptide use in primary care.
Highlights the need to resolve systemic diagnostic barriers, as diagnostic uncertainty impedes accurate phenotyping and optimal management of cardiovascular diseases.

Structured PICO

P

Population

543 physicians (209 primary care physicians and 334 cardiology specialists) in Korea surveyed on heart failure awareness and practice patterns.

O

Outcome

Heart failure awareness, diagnostic testing practices, and guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) use

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 97% vs 61%

Limitations

Lower testing rates in primary care may reflect system-level constraints rather than lack of awareness alone

Ask about this paper

Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.

Implication

This editorial highlights significant gaps in heart failure diagnostic testing and guideline-directed medical therapy implementation between primary care physicians and cardiology specialists in Korea.

Abstract

No abstract yet. The journal hasn't published one we can show.

Discussion

No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.

Cite This Study

Su Yeon Lee (2026) conducted an editorial in Heart failure (n=543). Cardiology specialty vs. Primary care specialty was evaluated on Echocardiography use for heart failure diagnosis.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69a7658dbadf0bb9e87d9856 https://doi.org/10.36628/ijhf.2026.0017

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Share

From Awareness to Implementation: Bridging Gaps in Heart Failure Care in Korea—Insights From KNOW-HF

Key Points

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

From Awareness to Implementation: Bridging Gaps in Heart Failure Care in Korea—Insights From KNOW-HF

Key Points

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Keep reading

Keep reading