Optimising Management of Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction in Primary Care

Heart failure (HF) accounts for 2% of National Health Service (NHS) expenditure, and 5% of emergency hospitalisations. Patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) are older, have more comorbidities, have similarly poor or worse outcomes compared to patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), and currently lack an evidence base for treatment. The investigators hypothesise that outcomes of patients with HFpEF can be improved through optimised management and self-management of comorbidities, fluid status and lifestyle delivered in primary care in collaboration with specialists. The primary aim is to develop a programme of optimised management by improving understanding of needs and experiences of patients with HFpEF, clinical decision-making and management in primary care, and integrating research findings with patient and clinical expertise. The main objective for this work package is to identify patients with HFpEF in primary care and assess comorbidities and other factors, management, morbidity and mortality at one year. The methodology employed will be a longitudinal cohort study of 270 patients with HFpEF in primary care followed for 12 months.