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		Search Text: < Back To Home/Women, Black adults less likely to be diagnosed with heart failure in primary care

NHLBI IN THE PRESS
                                        
                    Women, Black adults less likely to be diagnosed with heart failure in primary care
                    
                    August 03, 2021
                                                            A 3D image of the heart is shown
    Primary care doctors miss about one-third of heart failure diagnoses, which patients may discover after visiting the hospital for a medical emergency, according to a study in *Circulation: Heart Failure*. The authors found that women, Black adults, and patients with lower incomes were more likely to miss a heart failure diagnosis in a primary care setting.

Every year, about 1 million Americans are diagnosed withheart failure,which can be treated with different therapies and interventions to slow progression of the disease and support a patient’s quality of life. Despite the benefits of an earlier diagnosis, the authors found thatBlack patients compared to white adults, women compared to men, and those with fewer financial resources compared to those with a net worth of more than $500,000 were more likely to receive a heart failure diagnosis after visiting the emergency room or receiving urgent care.

To generate these findings, researchers analyzed the medical records of 959,438 patients diagnosed with heart failure over a 16-year period and looked at preceding events. In addition to finding that 38% of patients received a heart failure diagnosis following a medical emergency, they discovered that about half of these patients, 46%, experienced heart failure symptoms several months before. This might include shortness of breath, swollen hands or feet, coughing, or chest pain. The authors cited studies noting heart failure diagnoses following acute events are on the rise globally but stressed opportunities for and the potential benefits of earlier monitoring and interventions.

NHLBI and theNational Center for Advancing Translational Sciences supported this research.
                        Media Coverage
                
    August 03, 2021
      |
            Cardiovascular Business
                Missed opportunities: Early heart failure diagnoses often overlooked in outpatient setting
                                                                                                
        July 29, 2021
      |
            Reuter's Health
                Heart failure diagnoses often missed in primary care setting
                                                                                                
        July 28, 2021
      |
            HealthDay News
                Primary care doctors often miss heart failure in women, Black patients
                                                                                                
        July 27, 2021
      |
            Healio
                Chance for early HF diagnosis in a primary care setting missed for many women, Black patients
                                                                                                
        July 27, 2021
      |
            Becker’s Hospital Review
                Heart failure diagnosis likely missed in primary care setting for these groups, study finds
                                                                                                
        July 27, 2021
      |
            American Heart Association
                Heart failure diagnoses may be missed in a primary care setting for women, Black adults Back To Top Link
  

        

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