PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 391 - 30 Nov 2002

■ Heart failure investigation appears to beappropriate, but improved organisation of care isrequired to address inconsistencies betweenphysicians’ knowledge and the delivery of treatment,says a multinational team of investigators. Theyundertook a survey in 15 countries during the periodSeptember 1999–May 2000 to assess primary-carephysicians’ knowledge of heart failure managementand the implementation of such knowledge. Themajority of physicians were aware of the clinicalbenefits of ACE inhibitors and β-blockers in patientswith heart failure. However, ACE inhibitors wereprescribed to 60% of patients, and β-blockers to only34% of patients; only one-fifth of all patients wereprescribed combination ACE inhibitor/β-blockertherapy.Cleland JGF, et al. Management of heart failure in primary care (theIMPROVEMENT of Heart Failure Programme): an international survey.Lancet 360: 1631-1639, 23 Nov 2002 800925009

1

PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 30 Nov 2002 No. 3911173-5503/10/0391-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved