Heart Failure Patients With Delayed Diagnosis Are Hospitalized More Often and
Have More Symptoms
TORONTO, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly half of all patients who are
hospitalized for the first time due to congestive heart failure could have
been diagnosed in the less expensive, less urgent care setting of their
doctor's office. This is according to a study presented today in a poster
session at the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) 2004 Scientific Meeting
in Toronto, Canada.
Data from a Harris Interactive(R) poll of patients with congestive heart
failure (CHF) indicated a need for earlier diagnosis and better education of
heart failure patients in order to impact the epidemic course of the disease
in America.
"Even with recent advances in heart failure treatment and increased
establishment of disease education programs, the Harris poll shows us that
there is still ample room for more education and earlier diagnosis in order to
prevent acute attacks of heart failure that cause patients to be
hospitalized," said Brenda S. Thompson, R.N., M.S., lead study presenter and
member of the cardiology care staff at University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center in Dallas.
According to the American Heart Association Heart Disease and Stroke
Statistics -- 2004 Update, each year more than 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 hospitalization, translating into a potential cost of
$28.8 billion for the healthcare system.
The poll was conducted by Harris Interactive, funded by Scios Inc., and
surveyed a sample of 261 congestive heart failure (CHF) patients across the
United States. According to the poll, patients with delayed diagnosis suffered
more symptoms, took more medications, used more hospital resources and were
more likely to suffer from comorbid conditions such as diabetes or depression.
Delayed diagnosis was caused by patients either not seeking treatment early
enough or from patients being misdiagnosed.
The poll also found that patients with heart failure had variable levels
of knowledge about the disease, including risk factors, symptoms and treatment
options. Based on these results, study investigators conclude that better
patient education initiatives are needed to impact disease awareness,
knowledge and treatment.
"The results of the Harris poll indicate that earlier diagnosis and better
education of heart failure patients may help to prevent costly
hospitalizations. Seeing patients early in the progression of acutely
decompensated heart failure and diagnosing and treating them before they end
up in the hospital can change the course of the disease and potentially
improve patient quality of life," said study investigator Clyde W. Yancy,
M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine & Cardiology, Director of Congestive
Heart Failure/Heart Transplant Program at UT Southwestern Medical Center,
Dallas.
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.
About Congestive Heart Failure
Congestive heart failure is characterized by a progressive loss in the
heart's ability to pump blood. Since a weak heart does not pump fluid very
well through the body, fluid can back up and "pool" in the lungs causing
shortness of breath or can accumulate in the ankles causing swelling. This is
why heart failure is often called "congestive" heart failure, or CHF. The term
"decompensated" is a medical term used to describe patients with these
symptoms.
About Scios Inc.
Scios Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company, is a biopharmaceutical company
headquartered in Fremont, California. Scios is developing novel treatments for
cardiovascular disease, inflammatory disease and cancer. 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 and peptides for markets with unmet medical
needs. For more information, visit http://www.sciosinc.com.
SOURCE Scios Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.sciosinc.com
CONTACT:
Chris B. Ernst of Scios Inc.,
+1-415-710-9445; or Karin Bauer Aranaz of WeissCom Partners,
Inc., +1-415-859-3414, for Scios Inc.
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