Predicting mortality among a community-based sample of older people with heart failure.

Barnes, Sarah and Gott, Merryn and Payne, Sheila and Parker, Chris and Seamark, David and Gariballa, Salah and Small, Neil (2008) Predicting mortality among a community-based sample of older people with heart failure. Chronic Illness, 4 (1). pp. 5-12. ISSN 1745-9206

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Abstract

Objective: To identify factors available to general practitioners (GPs) that are predictive of mortality within a general practice-based population of heart failure patients, and to report the sensitivity and specificity of prognostic information from GPs. Methods: Five hundred and forty-two heart failure patients aged >60 years were recruited from 16 UK GP surgeries. Patients completed quality-of-life and services use questionnaires every 3 months for 24 months or until death. Factors with independent significant association with survival were identified using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Results: Women had a 58% lower risk of death. Patients self-reporting New York Heart Association Classification III or IV had an 81% higher risk of death. Patients aged 85+ years had over a five-fold risk of death as compared with those aged <65 years. Patients with a co-morbidity of cancer had a 78% higher risk of death. Of the 14 patients who died in a 12-month period, the GPs identified 11 (sensitivity 79%). They identified 133 of the 217 who did not die (specificity 61%). Discussion: Predictors readily available to GPs, such as patient characteristics, are easy to adapt to use in general practice, where most heart failure patients are diagnosed and treated. Identifying factors likely to influence death is useful in primary care, as this can initiate discussion about end-of-life care.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Chronic Illness
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2700/2719
Subjects:
?? general practice • heart failure • mortality • older peoplehealth policymedicine(all)r medicine (general) ??
ID Code:
32726
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
15 Apr 2010 09:05
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
28 Nov 2023 11:10