[Effects of a return-to -home assistance programm (PRADO-IC) on the patient journey in a cohort of cardiac heart failure patients].

INTRODUCTION

Congestive heart failure (HF) is associated with prolonged and recurrent hospitalizations; the prognosis remains poor a better follow up might be beneficial. PRADO-IC program is provided in order to improve the transition of care.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate PRADO-IC program in term of healthcare consumption and prognosis in a cohort of patients hospitalized for decompensated HF, using the insight of the national data base SNDS (Système National de Données de Santé).

METHODS

From September 2016 to September 2018, all patients hospitalized for heart failure at Saint-Joseph Hospital were included in an observational study. The inclusion in the PRADO-IC program was at physician's discretion. Two groups were compared according to the inclusion in PRADO-IC (P group) or not (control group (C)). The primary endpoints were the comparison of one-year mortality and heart failure readmission rate between the two groups. The secondary end points were time to the first contact with a general practitioner (GP), a cardiologist, CHF drugs prescription, and others follow up data.

RESULTS

Six hundred and fifteen patients were included, 254 in the P group and 361 in the C group. Patients in the P cohort presented more frequently severity criteria (age, weight, BNP level, arrhythmia, anemia, renal failure). Mortality at one year (n = 47; 18.5% P group vs. n = 65; 16.2% C group, p = 0.87) did not differ in both groups. There was no significant difference in one-year re-hospitalization rate for HF (n = 93, 36.6% in P group vs. n = 133, 26.8% in C group, p = 0.95). Time to the first contact with the GP was shorter in P group (8.00 vs. 18.50 days, p < 0.0001). Time to first hospitalization (69.0 vs. 37.0 days, p = 0.028) and the length of hospitalization (6.0 vs. 4.0 days, p = 0.045) were longer in P group. There was no difference for HF drugs prescription rate between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Our study shows that the PRADO-IC program concerned more severe patients. Despite this, the one-year mortality and the HF readmission rates are similar between the two groups. The follow up is improved in P group.