BACKGROUND: Improved treatment of @entity712 ( @entity712 ) can slow disease progression, promote clinical stability, and prolong survival. HYPOTHESIS: Patterns in diagnostic test utilization and pharmacotherapy among @entity1 with newly diagnosed @entity712 may affect outcomes. METHODS: Claims data were analyzed from all diagnostic procedures and prescriptions from 1995 to 1998 in 3,353 @entity1 with @entity712 diagnosed within 1 year. Rates of diagnostic testing and categories of drugs prescribed were the main outcome measures. Demographic variables and type of provider were analyzed within a setting whose access to care was controlled. RESULTS: Rates of diagnostic testing with respect to basic, metabolic/endocrine, alternative diagnoses, underlying @entity63 , and left ventricular function varied as a function of gender, age, race, and primary versus specialty care provider. Only 4.7% of @entity1 underwent all diagnostics and treatments recommended in current guidelines. However, those @entity1 (27.5%) who underwent an evaluation for @entity741 and were prescribed vasodilators or beta blockers enjoyed the lowest crude mortality. CONCLUSIONS: There are multiple opportunities apparent to improve the initial diagnostic and therapeutic care of @entity1 with @entity712 . There appears to be an early survival benefit with respect to use of vasodilators and beta blockers within the first year of treatment.

Opportunities for improvement in the diagnosis and treatment of XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity712 :: ('MESH:D006333', 'Disease') :: ['congestive heart failure', 'CHF', 'heart failure'] @entity741 :: ('MESH:D017202', 'Disease') :: ['ischemic heart disease'] @entity63 :: ('MESH:D007511', 'Disease') :: ['ischemia']
@entity712 :: (MESH:D006333,Disease) :: ['heart failure']
