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
| Document type: | Journal Articles |
|---|---|
| Article type: | Original article |
| Peer reviewed: | Yes |
| Author(s): | Anders Halling, Johan Berglund |
| Title: | 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 |
| Journal: | SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE |
| Year: | 2003 |
| Volume: | 21 |
| Issue: | 2 |
| Pagination: | 96-98 |
| ISSN: | 0281-3432 |
| Publisher: | TAYLOR & FRANCIS AS |
| City: | OSLO |
| URI/DOI: | 10.1080/02813430310001699 |
| ISI number: | 000182821300008 |
| Organization: | Blekinge Institute of Technology |
| Department: | School of Health Science (Sektionen för hälsa) School of Health Science S-371 79 Karlskrona +46 455 38 50 00 http://www.bth.se/hal/ |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | 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. |
| Subject: | Nursing & Caring Sciences\General Medical Sciences |
| Keywords: | heart failure, diabetes mellitus, echocardiography, treatment, primary health care |
