An integrated heart failure management program did not significantly reduce death or hospital readmission compared to usual care, but reduced multiple admissions (56 vs 95; P=0.015).
RCT (n=197)
Cluster randomized
No
Does an integrated heart failure management programme reduce death or hospital readmissions and improve quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure?
An integrated heart failure management program did not reduce the primary composite of death or first hospital readmission, but it significantly improved physical quality of life and reduced recurrent hospital admissions.
AIMS: To determine the effect of an integrated heart failure management programme, involving patient and family, primary and secondary care, on quality of life and death or hospital readmissions in patients with chronic heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS: This trial was a cluster randomized, controlled trial of integrated primary/secondary care compared with usual care for patients with heart failure. The intervention involved clinical review at a hospital-based heart failure clinic early after discharge, individual and group education sessions, a personal diary to record medication and body weight, information booklets and regular clinical follow-up alternating between the general practitioner and heart failure clinic. Follow-up was for 12 months. One hundred and ninety-seven patients admitted to Auckland Hospital with an episode of heart failure were enrolled in the study. There was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups for the combined end-point of death or hospital readmission. The physical dimension of quality of life showed a greater improvement in the intervention group from baseline to 12 months compared with the control group (-11.1 vs -5.8 respectively, 2 P=0.015). The main effect of the intervention was attributable to the prevention of multiple admissions (56 intervention group vs 95 control group, 2 P=0.015) and associated reduction in bed days. CONCLUSIONS: This integrated management programme for patients with chronic heart failure improved quality of life and reduced total hospital admissions and total bed days.
Robert N. Doughty (2002) conducted an RCT in Chronic heart failure (n=197). Integrated heart failure management programme vs. Usual care was evaluated on Combined end-point of death or hospital readmission. An integrated heart failure management program did not significantly reduce death or hospital readmission compared to usual care, but reduced multiple admissions (56 vs 95; P=0.015).