Empowering people with symptoms of HF to seek medical attention

A team of cardiologists in Rotenburg an der Fulda developed the German Heart Failure Test (Deutscher Herzinsuffizienz-Test, DeHiT) to empower people with symptoms of heart failure to pursue a diagnosis.¹ The questionnaire includes 12 questions on the presence of common heart failure risk factors and symptoms, including breathlessness, high blood pressure, extreme fatigue, fluid retention, swelling and heart palpitations. The questions help people determine whether heart failure is unlikely, possible or probable, and guide them in their decision to seek medical attention.¹

The DeHiT is not a clinical decision-making tool or replacement for medical advice, but aims to empower people with heart failure signs and symptoms to seek help and receive a timely diagnosis. The questionnaire is available online² and as a smartphone application.³

References

1. Edel K, Kurscheid C, Degenhardt R. 2019. Fragebogen zur frühen Detektion von Herzinsuffizienz DeHiT (Deutscher Herzinsuffizienz-Test). Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333644753_Fragebogen_zur_fruhen_Detektion_von_Herzinsuffizienz_DeHiT_Deutscher_Herzinsuffizienz-Test [Accessed 01/09/20]
2. Novartis. Herzschwäche-Risiko: Ja oder nein? Machen Sie unseren Test! Available from: https://www.ratgeber-herzinsuffizienz.de/erkennen/online-test [Accessed 02/09/20]
3. Edel K. DeHiT – Deutscher Herzinsuffizienz Test. Available from: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.hkz_rotenburg.dehit&hl=de [Accessed 02/09/20]