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Diagnosis and treatment of heart failure in primary health care among elderly patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, with special reference to use of echocardiography

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Author

Summary, in English

Objective-The aim of the present study was to describe how the diagnosis of heart failure (HF) was assessed, aetiology and management in elderly patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) in primary health care, with special reference to use of echocardiography. Design-Descriptive retrospective investigation. Setting-Ronneby and Karlskrona communities, both situated on the Swedish south-east coast, 28,600 and 60,600 inhabitants, respectively. Patients-279 patients with NIDDM, mean age 77 years (range 70-85). Main outcome measures-Prevalence, aetiology, diagnostic procedures and management of HF. Results-The majority of patients were given the diagnosis of HF mainly as a result of clinical examination, ECG and chest X-ray, or of hospitalisation for HF. The diagnosis of HF by the primary care physicians was based on an objective evaluation of cardiac function in 8% of the patients. Hypertension was the predominant associated disease, followed by ischaemic heart disease (IHD). Therapy included diuretics (91%), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (43%) and digoxin (53%). Conclusion-There is still a gap between current management of HF in primary care and guidelines, particularly in the case of diagnosis that is not generally based on an objective evaluation of cardiac function.

Publishing year

2003

Language

English

Pages

96-98

Publication/Series

Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care

Volume

21

Issue

2

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Topic

  • Health Care Service and Management, Health Policy and Services and Health Economy

Keywords

  • primary
  • health care
  • treatment
  • echocardiography
  • heart failure
  • diabetes mellitus

Status

Published

Research group

  • Family Medicine and Community Medicine

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0281-3432