Delayed Diagnosis Leads to Poorer Prognosis for Health
FREMONT, Calif., Feb. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Fewer than half of congestive
heart failure patients are diagnosed immediately, while many experience
symptoms for more than a year before they are diagnosed with the disease,
according to a nationwide poll. Regardless of time of diagnosis, over half of
all patients are first diagnosed with congestive heart failure as a result of
having an acute attack of disease symptoms.
An estimated 5 million Americans have congestive heart failure, making the
disease epidemic. Congestive heart failure symptoms include shortness of
breath, edema (fluid retention), swelling of the feet, ankles, legs, abdomen
or lower back, fatigue, weakness and loss of appetite. The disease is
characterized by a progressive loss in the heart's ability to pump blood.
The poll was conducted by Harris Interactive(R), funded by Scios Inc. and
surveyed a sample of 261 congestive heart failure (CHF) patients across the
United States. Fifty-four percent of patients surveyed were diagnosed with the
disease in an emergency room or hospital. Results from the study also showed
that nearly half of patients (43%) experienced delayed diagnosis for heart
failure with a quarter of all cases being diagnosed more than a year after
patients first noticed symptoms of the disease. Patients experiencing delayed
diagnosis were suffering from nearly 5 symptoms of congestive heart failure
(4.7) and most (46%) were diagnosed in the emergency room (ER) or after
hospital admission. The average age at diagnosis for all patients with CHF
was 54.
Compared with congestive heart failure patients who sought treatment
immediately for their symptoms (45%), results from the poll showed that those
whose diagnosis was delayed:
-- Are hospitalized more often (2.1 vs. 1.2 times in the past 12 months,
among those hospitalized)
-- End up in an ER with CHF symptoms more often (2.3 vs 1.4 times in the
past 12 months, among those who were treated at an ER)
-- Have more symptoms of CHF at diagnosis (4.7 vs 3.6 symptoms)
-- Take more prescription medications (3.6 vs. 2.9 medications)
-- Are more likely to say they are in poor health (34% vs. 18%)
-- Are less likely to see their doctor for their condition (4.8 vs. 5.5
visits in the past year)
"It is discouraging that so many people suffering from symptoms of
congestive heart failure experience delayed diagnosis," said Dr. Clyde Yancy
of U.T. Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Tex. "While there are effective
treatments for patients who suffer from acutely decompensated congestive heart
failure with dyspnea at rest or with minimal activity, such as the natriuretic
peptides, or nesiritide, early intervention is key to improving patient
outcomes."
Results from the poll of congestive heart failure patients also revealed:
-- Only 34% of congestive heart failure patients receive life-prolonging
angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.
-- Eighty percent of CHF patients have been diagnosed with another heart
condition.
-- Fifty percent of CHF patients have been diagnosed with diabetes.
-- Fifteen percent of patients diagnosed with congestive heart failure
have not received any treatment from a healthcare professional in the
last 12 months.
For more information about the Scios-sponsored Harris Interactive survey
of congestive heart failure patients, or to obtain a copy of the study,
contact Karin Bauer Aranaz at WeissCom Partners, 415-362-5018.
Survey Methodology
Harris Interactive surveyed a representative sample of 261 diagnosed
adult congestive heart failure patients aged 18 and over online between
January 15 and 19, 2004. Data were weighted to be representative of the entire
U.S. congestive heart failure population.
About Harris Interactive(R)
Harris Interactive (http://www.harrisinteractive.com) is a worldwide market
research and consulting firm best known for The Harris Poll(R), and for
pioneering the Internet method to conduct scientifically accurate market
research. Headquartered in Rochester, New York, U.S.A., Harris Interactive
combines proprietary methodologies and technology with expertise in
predictive, custom and strategic research. The Company conducts international
research through wholly owned subsidiaries -- London-based HI Europe
(http://www.hieurope.com) and Tokyo-based Harris Interactive Japan -- as well as
through the Harris Interactive Global Network of local market- and opinion-
research firms, and various U.S. offices. EOE M/F/D/V
About Congestive Heart Failure
According to the 2004 American Heart Association Heart Disease and Stroke
Statistics Update, each year over 50,000 people die of congestive heart
failure and 550,000 new disease cases are reported. An estimated 5 million
Americans have congestive heart failure, and these patients are at significant
risk for decompensation (rapid deterioration) and resulting hospitalization,
translating into a potential cost of $28.8 billion for the healthcare system.
Heart failure develops when the heart muscle becomes weakened after it has
been injured. Different diseases can cause HF, including coronary artery
disease, high blood pressure that goes untreated, heart attacks, inflammation
of the heart tissue and diseases of the heart valves. HF is characterized by a
progressive loss in the heart's ability to pump blood. Since a weak heart does
not pump very well, blood does not flow as well throughout the body. Because
blood isn't flowing as easily through the body, fluid can sometimes back up
and "pool" in the lungs or ankles. This is why heart failure is often called
"congestive" heart failure, or CHF.
About Acute Heart Failure
Acute heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalization in persons
over 65 years of age and accounts for approximately one million hospital
admissions each year in the United States. Hospitalizations for acute heart
failure (AHF) increased from 377,000 in 1979 to 999,000 in 2000 in the United
States. The major expenditure for heart failure care is hospitalization, with
an estimated $12.7 billion spent per year on the inpatient management of AHF.
During an episode of acute heart failure, the heart's ability to circulate
blood adequately throughout the body worsens to the point where
hospitalization is necessary to stabilize the patient's condition. A sudden
increase in salt in a person's diet, a patient's failure to take prescribed
oral medications or the development of a new heart problem can cause these
acute episodes. Virtually all congestive heart failure patients will
experience at least one acute episode severe enough that only intravenous
medications administered in the hospital can improve a patient's condition.
About Natrecor(R) (nesiritide)
Natrecor is indicated for the treatment of acutely decompensated
congestive heart failure in patients with dyspnea (shortness of breath) at
rest or with minimal activity. Administered intravenously, Natrecor is a
recombinant form of human B-type natriuretic peptide (hBNP), a naturally
occurring protein in the body. In clinical trials, Natrecor caused arteries
and veins to dilate, alleviating symptoms in patients with acutely
decompensated congestive heart failure by improving blood movement around the
heart, yet without increasing heart rate or interfering with heartbeat
regularity.
Natrecor(R) (nesiritide) may cause hypotension. If hypotension occurs
during administration of Natrecor, the dose should be reduced or discontinued,
and blood pressure should be monitored closely. At the recommended dose of
Natrecor, the incidence of symptomatic hypotension (4%) was similar to that of
IV nitroglycerin (5%). Asymptomatic hypotension occurred in 8% of patients
treated with both drugs. The mean duration of symptomatic hypotension was
longer with Natrecor than IV nitroglycerin (2.2 versus 0.7 hours,
respectively). Natrecor may affect renal function in susceptible individuals.
In patients with severe heart failure whose renal function may depend on the
activity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, treatment with Natrecor
may be associated with azotemia. Other adverse events reported at a rate of
at least 5% during the first 24 hours of infusion with either Natrecor plus
standard care or IV nitroglycerin plus standard care therapy, included,
respectively: ventricular tachycardia (3%, 5%), nonsustained ventricular
tachycardia (3%, 5%), headache (8%, 20%), abdominal pain (1%, 5%), and nausea
(4%, 6%). Higher doses of Natrecor increased the risk of hypotension and
elevated creatinine.
Natrecor is contraindicated in patients who are hypersensitive to any of
its components. Natrecor should not be used as primary therapy for patients
with cardiogenic shock, with a systolic blood pressure < 90 mm Hg, or in
patients with low cardiac filling pressures.
To download a copy of Natrecor full prescribing information, visit
http://www.natrecor.com, or to have a copy of full prescribing information faxed to
you, call 1-877-4-NATRECOR.
About Scios Inc.
Scios, a Johnson & Johnson company, is a biopharmaceutical company
headquartered in Fremont, California. Scios is developing novel treatments for
cardiovascular and inflammatory disease. The Company's disease-based
technology platform integrates expertise in protein biology with computational
and medicinal chemistry to identify novel targets and rationally design small
molecule compounds for markets with unmet medical needs.
SOURCE Scios Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.sciosinc.com
CONTACT:
Karin Bauer Aranaz of WeissCom Partners,
Inc., +1-415-859-3414, for Scios Inc.; or Nancy Wong of Harris
Interactive, +1-585-214-7316
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