The third report from the National Heart Failure Audit, which analysed more than 21,000 patient records, suggests about 32% of heart failure patients will die within a year of their hospital admission. However, the mortality rate falls to 23% for those are seen by a cardiologist or have access to specialist heart failure services. In-patient mortality is also twice as likely for a heart failure patient if they are on a non-cardiac ward; at 12% compared to 6%.
The audit also suggests many patients are prescribed less than 50% of the target dose for drugs like ACE Inhibitors – which, when used effectively, can halve mortality in the year after discharge; or beta blockers, which can reduce mortality by around a third. The report also shows that people from poorer areas are admitted to hospital around five years earlier in life for heart failure than people in the most affluent areas.
Dr Theresa McDonagh, chair of the British Society for Heart Failure and audit clinical lead, said: “This audit shows that patients admitted to hospital with heart failure have an unacceptably high death rate. Outcomes for these patients can be significantly improved by having specialist cardiology input to their care, administration of appropriate evidence-based doses of key drugs and follow-up by specialist services.”
Run jointly by The NHS Information Centre and the British Society for Heart Failure and commissioned by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP), the report focuses on the care of patients with unscheduled admissions to hospital for heart failure in England and Wales between April 2009 and March 2010.
