Rome, April 6 (beraking latest news Salute) – In Italy 1 million and 200 thousand people suffer from chronic heart failure, in particular over 65. But despite heart failure is one of the big killers of cardiology, “one of the major critical issues in the management of the disease is represented by the late diagnosis” says Maria Rosaria Di Somma, managing director of the Italian Heart Failure Association (Aisc) in an interview the new portal dedicated to medical-scientific information created by Novartis has been published on the ‘Allies for Health‘ website (www.alleatiperlasalute.it). “Symptoms are often underestimated by the patient and by the doctor himself – underlines Di Somma -. Result? In most cases, the diagnosis of heart failure occurs in the acute phase, ie during hospitalization “.
Instead, early diagnosis is important in order to “intervene first on the damage but, above all, primary prevention is essential – underlines Damiano Parretti, National Head of Cardiovascular Area Simg (Italian Society of General Medicine and Primary Care) in the same interview -. It is necessary to intervene in a timely manner to intercept the risk factors so that heart failure does not occur. There are many alarm bells. The general practitioner in front of his patients who have some characteristics must be careful if there is a reduction in resistance to effort or a reduction in water, with edema, swelling of the ankles, weight gain, breathing difficulties “.
The Covid pandemic has had and has a significant impact on the decompensated patient “and on the monitoring of the evolution of the disease – adds Di Somma – still today neglected by the patient because he avoids going to the hospital or outpatient clinic for fear of contagion, because the health system is giving priority to Covid patients and why the decompensated person himself has difficulty in contacting his general practitioner. Fortunately, telemedicine has proved to be a valid tool to ensure, albeit remotely, the continuity of care and assistance ”.
In our country, heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalization with an estimated cost for the NHS of over 650 million euros a year, according to data provided by Aisc. The disease, in addition to having a very high social cost, has a significant impact on the patient’s quality of life but, above all, heart failure is burdened by a high mortality rate: over 25% of patients die within one year of diagnosis. and about half within 5 years and it has been estimated that every hospital admission related to heart failure triples the risk of death within 12 months. Furthermore, the prevalence of the disease increases by about 2% for every decade of age up to at least 10% in patients over 70.
“It is a chronic, progressive, disabling and very complex disease to treat – explains Di Somma – and it concerns the elderly who, almost always, in addition to heart failure, also have other chronic diseases. This causes it to need a more complex system of care. Yet, to date, there are no heart failure centers in Italy “.
“It mainly affects patients with a history of arterial hypertension and carriers of cardiac organ damage – remembers Parretti – It manifests itself clinically in a heterogeneous way. Sometimes with shortness of breath, pain and swelling in the extremities, weight gain, cough with sputum, frequent urination At other times, however, it appears with symptoms, such as weakness, sleep disturbances, confusion, loss of consciousness, congestion and water retention, in addition to a reduction in cardiac output “.
According to experts, the management of heart failure cannot be separated from a multidisciplinary approach (general practitioner, outpatient and hospital specialist) and, where possible, support from a caregiver.
“The diagnostic suspicion must be borne by the general practitioner – says Parretti – but the cardiologist is essential both for an initial and precise diagnostic classification and then in follow-up. That is, when, despite the therapy, weight gain occurs. , dyspnoea, mental confusion and signs of alterations in renal function. The general practitioner must always carry out proactive monitoring, do not wait for the patient but look for him, follow his general clinical condition through some parameters that can also be detected and transmitted by telephone, such as blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation and body weight monitoring. The management of heart failure must be integrated – he concludes – and include: cardiologists, internists, nephrologists and specialized nurses “.
For further information, you can also read the news on: https://www.alleatiperlasalute.it/lapproccio-multidisciplinare-nello-scompenso-cardiaco.