This report explores common challenges in heart failure diagnosis and presents four major opportunities for innovation in community-based diagnosis:
The report also showcases promising case studies and initiatives, aiming to improve community-based diagnosis.
Building on this report, the Heart Failure Policy Network will hold a round-table discussion with experts in heart failure innovation in early 2023, to discuss the major challenges to the implementation of innovative tools in heart failure and propose recommendations to overcome them. This will inform our future work on this topic.
If you would like to share the messages from this report, please find the accompanying communications pack here.
Across Europe, heart failure is often diagnosed too late. Most people are diagnosed only in hospital, even though data from the UK show that one in three of these people have previously presented with symptoms in primary care. Early diagnosis is essential to achieve better outcomes for people living with heart failure and to prevent serious hospitalisations.
Innovative approaches and technologies can strengthen the diagnosis of heart failure in community settings, such as primary care services. This has the potential to ensure heart failure is diagnosed early and managed appropriately, thus preventing hospitalisations.
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed our overreliance on acute and hospital-focused models of care, but it also accelerated the use of innovative technologies and tools to ensure access to diagnosis and care for conditions such as heart failure. During the pandemic, primary and community care have come to play a bigger role in heart failure diagnosis and care in many European countries.
Click the map to sort the case studies by country or view all below
Considerable thanks are due to the following experts for sharing their knowledge in interviews:
This project was made possible with financial support from AstraZeneca.
