Heart failure (HF) occurs when the heart is no longer able to pump blood effectively throughout the body. This leads to symptoms that gradually worsen over time and are often mistaken for normal signs of aging. Because of its insidious onset, early detection is challenging. Both patients and healthcare professionals are often insufficiently aware of the early signs and symptoms of HF, resulting in delayed diagnosis. Consequently, timely initiation of treatments that could slow disease progression, improve quality of life, and reduce hospitalizations is often missed. Although a simple blood test measuring NT-proBNP levels can facilitate the early diagnosis of HF, it is not routinely used in clinical practice.
The aim of this study is to evaluate whether a combined strategy for the early diagnosis and treatment of HF can reduce hospitalizations. This strategy includes:
1. increasing awareness of HF among patients and physicians,
2. using NT-proBNP testing for the early detection of HF in high-risk patients, and
3. promptly initiating guideline-directed HF treatment when the diagnosis is confirmed.
The researchers will assess whether this strategy effectively reduces hospitalizations due to acute heart failure over an 18-month follow-up period.