Impact of Heart Failure Center Program on Cardiac Outcomes in Patients With Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a major public health problem worldwide. CHF carries a devastating prognosis, which resembles that of some types of malignant cancer. Despite substantial improvements in the management of the disease, the prognosis remains poor especially in advanced stages of the disease. For these patients, self-management plan includes monitoring of symptoms such as fatigue and shortness of breath, daily weighing, and knowing what to do if signs of deterioration appear, and when to report the changes to health. The investigators hypothesize that patients in the heart failure management programs that promote self-management by means of intensive education, edema index-assistance, and telephone follow-up can improve their functional status and quality of life, as well as the biomarkers of CHF, left ventricular systolic function, proteinuria and nutritional status.

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a major public health problem world-wide. CHF carries a devastating prognosis which resembles that of some types of malignant cancer. Its incidence rises steadily from 0.02 per 1000 population per year in those aged 25 to 34 years to 11.6 in those aged 85 years or older. Despite substantial improvements in the management of the disease, the prognosis remains poor especially in advanced stages of the disease. About half of the patients diagnosed with CHF die within 4 years of diagnosis. With the increasing number of patients with CHF being referred from hospital to primary health care, the demands for expanded services in primary health care have increased. Caring for patients with CHF often involves a number of physical, medical, behavioral, psychological and social factors, and requires appropriate attention to all aspects of care, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological. Educating patients about CHF treatment and the consequences of CHF has been shown to improve self-management behavior. For patients with CHF, the self-management plan includes monitoring of symptoms such as fatigue and shortness of breath, daily weighing, and knowing what to do if signs of deterioration appear, and when to report the changes to health care provider. In patients with CHF, the prognosis worsens considerably once malnutrition develops. Mortality at 18 months in unselected patients with CHF in whom cardiac cachexia had been diagnosed was as high as 50% compared to in non-cachectic patients from the same study population. In addition, amount of proteinuria has been known to be related to atherosclerosis burden and disease severity regarding lots of disease entities. The atherosclerosis score is also probably modifiable by life style intervention and educational program. CHF can also activate a few neurohormone and natriuretic peptides, among which brain natriuretic peptide is the most world-wide used. Summarized, in this study, to estimate the effect of CHF education and self-management program, the parameters adopted include blood brain natriuretic peptide and albumin levels, atherosclerosis scores, proteinuria, renal function, changes in life quality, left ventricular ejection fraction, and cardiac outcomes. In Taiwan, so far, the investigators don't have this kind of CHF education and self-care system. The investigators hypothesize that patients in the heart failure management programs that promote self-management by means of intensive education, edema index-assistance, and telephone follow-up can improve their functional status and quality of life, as well as the biomarkers of CHF, left ventricular systolic function, proteinuria and nutritional status.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. patients hospitalized due to acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema documented on chest x-ray and
2. left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) \< 40% as documented by echocardiography; and
3. aged \> 20 and \< 80 years.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. the presence of systemic diseases such as hypothyroidism, decompensated liver cirrhosis, and systemic lupus erythematosus;
2. a disorder other than HF that might compromise survival within 6 months;
3. having implanted materials that could interfere with the bioimpedance analysis,
4. being bed-ridden for \> 3 months and/or unable to stand alone;
5. having serum creatinine of \> 5 mg/dl or nephritic syndrome;
6. having active cellulites, severe varicose veins, lymphedema or deep vein thrombosis over lower extremity;
7. undergoing dialysis within 2 weeks;
8. having severe coronary artery disease without complete revascularization therapy; and
9. being pregnant.