Compliance of the management of hospitalized patients with heart failure with the quality criteria for health care: data from the St. Petersburg registry

Aim. To assess the compliance of the management of patients with heart failure (HF) with quality criteria (QC) for health care, including discharge instructions for patients.Material and methods. Hospitalizations of patients aged over 18 years with HF (ICD 10 code — I50.x) during the period from January 1, 2019 to October 1, 2020 were randomly selected from the "Chronic Heart Failure" registry of St. Petersburg. Discharge and post-mortem summaries were assessed for compliance with the quality criteria listed in the 2020 Russian Chronic Heart Failure guidelines.Results. The study included 553 patients (women, 71,1%, mean age, 82,0±9 years, comorbidities: hypertension — 99,1%, coronary artery disease — 97,6%, chronic kidney disease — 53,2%, diabetes — 32,6%). Electrocardiography (QC № 1) was performed in 94,2% of patients, chest radiography (QC № 2) 91,7%, echocardiography (QC № 3) — 81,0%, but the results were not always informative. The exact ejection fraction (EF) value was reported in 55,4% of patients. Laboratory examination corresponded to QC № 4-6 in 20,3% of cases and was performed in 53,3-94,9%. Natriuretic peptides (NPs) were not determined (QC № 7-0%).The completeness of intravenous therapy (QC № 8) was not assessed due to insufficient physical examination data.Oral therapy (QC № 9) was prescribed frequently as follows: renin-angiotensinaldosterone system inhibitors (RAASo) — 93,3%, beta blockers (BBs) — 85,4%, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) — 78,7%. However, triple RAAS+BB+MRA therapy was carried out in 54,1% of HF cases with EF <50% and no contraindications.Diet was recommended in 87,1% of summaries, water-salt regimen — 53,3%, drug titration — 8,2%. The date of visit to outpatient cardiologist was indicated in 10,0%.Conclusion. With the exception of NP assessment, the scope of paraclinical studies corresponded to the QC in the majority of patients. Optimal therapy was prescribed to 54,1% of patients with EF <50%. An early outpatient visit after discharge was indicated in 10,0% of summaries.