Type of publication:
Conference abstract
Author(s):
*Muthusami R.; *Mahmoud M.; *Crawford E.; *Makan A.; *Ahmad N.; *Srinivasan K.S.; *Moudgil H.; *Candassamy N.
Citation:
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine; May 2018; vol. 197
Abstract:
RATIONALE Heart Failure (HF) and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are global epidemics incurring significant morbidity and mortality with overlapping symptoms & risk factors. Whereas with other coexisting co-morbidities such as with Diabetes Mellitus and Ischaemic Heart Disease, much work has been done to concurrently improve outcomes from both pathologies, whether anything is uniformly undertaken in practice to firstly recognize and secondly improve outcomes from HF and COPD is less understood. The objective here was to establish our current pattern of assessment to identify potential areas of improvement that would enable us to better manage the modern multi-morbid patient. METHODS Electronic medical records of all patients admitted to our District General Hospital (serving fairly static population 250,000) over a 6 month period to end December 2016 and referred internally to our Heart Failure Specialist Team were assessed. Data for all admitted cases were cross-referenced to Electrocardiography (ECHO) and Pulmonary Function Lab Databases. RESULTS 116 patients (63% male) with mean (SD, range) age 74.9 (11.7, 32-100) years had been admitted and of these 37% had died over the subsequent 12 months follow up period. Of the total, 113 (97%) had prior transthoracic cardiac ECHO (updated within a two year window); Mean estimated Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) was 41%. Comparatively, only 31 (27%) patients had undergone Spirometry testing at our centre over the preceding 10 year period and of these approximately half (51%) had shown obstructive spirometry. Collectively, 44 (38%) were known to have any Obstructive Airways Disease with 32 (28%) being COPD but a slightly higher figure at 50 (43%) were on inhaler treatment. . Sub-analysing, the 59 (51%) specifically with Ischaemic Heart Disease as opposed to other causes for Heart Failure (Valvular Heart Disease, Cardiomyopathy etc.) had a higher 12 month mortality rate (49%) as well as higher prevalence of known COPD (32%), higher proportion of patients with obstructive spirometry (65%) and patients on inhaler therapy (45%). Only 2 of the 7 patients on Amiodarone had Spirometry. CONCLUSION The basic provision of spirometry to Heart Failure patients, and in particular those with Ischaemic Heart Disease, needs to be improved with our findings probably consistent with others providing the same models of diagnosis driven care. Our findings are in a population with established Heart Failure and potentially in their final years of life but there may be improved quality of life and care planning, if assessing those presenting earlier.