Does index diagnosis of heart failure at hospital admission worsen survival and increase costs compared to community diagnosis?
Diagnosing heart failure early in the community rather than at hospital admission may improve survival and reduce long-term healthcare costs.
Index diagnosis of HF through hospital admission continues to dominate and is associated with a significantly greater short-term risk of mortality and substantially increased long-term costs than if first diagnosed in the community. This study highlights the potential for community diagnosis-early, before symptoms necessitate hospitalisation-to improve both clinical and health economic outcomes.
Bächtiger et al. (Wed,) studied this question.