The cardiac amyloidosis clinical pathway implementation: a real world experience

Background/Introduction

Prognosis for patients with cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is determined by disease stage at diagnosis, underlining the importance of timely referral. In 2018, a CA clinical pathway was implemented in an Amyloidosis Expert Center in The Netherlands to increase regional awareness.

Purpose

To evaluate the impact of CA clinical pathway implementation.

Methods

Patients diagnosed before implementation (2007–2018; T1) were retrospectively compared to the period after clinical pathway implementation (2019–2020; T2). Demographics and disease characteristics were collected from electronic health records.

Results

In total, 113 patients were diagnosed, mean age 67.8±8.5 years, 26% female. AL-CA was diagnosed in 62%, ATTR-CA in 38%. The number of CA diagnoses/year increased over time (Figure 1). NYHA class III (45% vs. 24%,p=0.04), CA stage (MAYO/Gillmore stage III or IV; 59% vs. 33%, p=0.03) and delay between symptoms and diagnosis (14.5 vs. 8.4 months, p<0.01) improved considerably between T1 and T2. Reasons for referral changed over time, with increasing awareness for right ventricular hypertrophy (9% vs. 36%) and unexplained HFpEF (22% vs 38%).

Conclusion

CA patients were diagnosed earlier with less severe symptoms. Clinical pathway implementation facilitated regional increased awareness and improved timely referral.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: None.

Design and methodology of the COACH-2 (Comparative study on guideline adherence and patient compliance in heart failure patients) study: HF clinics versus primary care in stable patients on optimal therapy

BACKGROUND

Since the number of heart failure (HF) patients is still growing and long-term treatment of HF patients is necessary, it is important to initiate effective ways for structural involvement of primary care services in HF management programs. However, evidence on whether and when patients can be referred back to be managed in primary care is lacking.

AIM

To determine whether long-term patient management in primary care, after initial optimisation of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment in a specialised HF clinic, is equally effective as long-term management in a specialised HF clinic in terms of guideline adherence and patient compliance.

METHOD

The study is designed as a randomised, controlled, non-inferiority trial. Two-hundred patients will be randomly assigned to be managed and followed in primary care or in a HFclinic. Patients are eligible to participate if they are (1) clinically stable, (2) optimally up-titrated on medication (according to ESC guidelines) and, (3) have received optimal education and counselling on pre-specified issues regarding HF and its treatment. Furthermore, close cooperation between secondary and primary care in terms of back referral to or consultation of the HF clinic will be provided.The primary outcome will be prescriber adherence and patient compliance with medication after 12 months. Secondary outcomes measures will be readmission rate, mortality, quality of life and patient compliance with other lifestyle changes.

EXPECTED RESULTS

The results of the study will add to the understanding of the role of primary care and HF clinics in the long-term follow-up of HF patients.