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Original Research
Chronic heart failure: Role of the GP in management
  1. Leon Piterman1,2,
  2. Hui Yang1,2,3 and
  3. Zhaoxia Yin4
  1. 1. Department of General Practice, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  2. 2. China GP Program, Monash Institute of Health and Clinical Education, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  3. 3. Shenzhen International Primary Health Care Research Institute, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
  4. 4. The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Luohu Hospital Group, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
  1. Corresponding author : Leon Piterman, Department of General Practice, Monash University, Bdg1, 270 Ferntree Gully Rd, Notting Hill, Victoria 3168, Australia, E-mail: Leon.piterman{at}monash.edu

Abstract

The commonest cause of chronic heat failure in China is ischemic heart disease, followed by hypertension and valvular heart disease. Echocardiography is essential in establishing a diagnosis as well as helping to identify a cause and to monitor progress. Management includes nonpharmacological as well as pharmacological treatment, and self-care with careful monitoring of salt and fluid intake as well as regular weight measurement. Care planning and team-based care are essential in managing patients with chronic heart failure, who often have concurrent multimorbidity and are receiving polypharmacy.

Significance statement In keeping with the global rise in the prevalence of chronic and noncommunicable disease, the prevalence of chronic heart failure (CHF) is increasing globally, with estimates of 10% of the population older than 75 years affected in developed countries, despite improvements in the management of cardiovascular disease more generally. This article discusses current management of CHF, illustrating the important role played by the GP in coordinating care. Management includes nonpharmacological as well as pharmacological treatment, and self-care with careful monitoring of salt and fluid intake as well as regular weight measurement. Care planning and team-based care are essential in managing patients with CHF, who often have concurrent multimorbidity and are receiving polypharmacy.

  • Chronic heart failure
  • general practice
  • team based care

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported License (CC BY-NC 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. See https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.

https://doi.org/10.15212/FMCH.2018.0100

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