Austrian survey of treating heart failure--AUSTRIA.

BACKGROUND

Treatment of chronic heart failure is based on the results of large clinical trials, which form the basis of treatment guidelines, such as those from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). The aim of this study was to record treatment-modalities and the implementation of guidelines of chronic heart failure in clinical practice in Austria.

METHODS

Overall 96 general physicians, specialists for internal medicine in private practice or in hospital outpatient departments participated in the survey. Physicians were asked to prospectively document 30 consecutive patients with chronic heart failure.

RESULTS

1880 patients were documented. The majority of patients were treated by general physicians (57%). Coronary artery disease was the most frequent aetiology for heart failure (47%). The most frequently used drugs were blockers of the renin-angiotensin-system (RAS-blocker including ACE-inhibitors and angiotensin-receptor-blockers, 78%), diuretics (76%) and beta-blockers (49%). Other drugs like digitalis and spironolactone were used infrequently. Average doses of ACE-inhibitors were approximately 90% of those recommended by the ESC, average doses of beta-blockers were approximately 50% of those recommended. Treatment among the three classes of physicians differed with respect to RAS-blockers and beta-blockers, which were used infrequently by general practitioners. Both groups of drugs were given more frequently to younger patients (<70 years) while digitalis was given more often to elderly patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Results from this survey suggest that Austrian physicians treating patients with heart failure use the appropriate drugs in dosages that are suggested by recently published guidelines (ACE-inhibitors and beta-blockers). However, dosages of spironolactone clearly differed from current recommendations.