Profile of Patients with Heart Failure: A Multi-Site Thailand Heart Failure Snapshot Study
Abstract Background: The prevalence of heart failure (HF) is increasing in many low- and middle-income countries but the limited availability of data on the patient profile and clinical outcomes of patients with HF challenges health services planning. Methods: The Thai HF Snapshot Study was a multi-site, observational study conducted in Thailand to document demographic, clinical and sociodemographic characteristics, and to compare clinical outcomes by the level of the hospital. Results: A total of 512 participants: mean age 64.9±15.3 years; female (55.9%) were recruited across Thailand. The most frequently identified admitting diagnosis was ischemic heart disease (45.1%). Most patients (70.3%) were classified as New York Heart Association class II at discharge. Patients in super tertiary care settings were frailer (3.2 vs. 2.9; p=0.015), had more depressive symptoms (8.1 vs. 5.7; p<0.001) and had lower functional status (66.2 vs. 73.3; p<0.001) than patients in tertiary care. Conclusion: Although HF patients admitted to super tertiary centers have access to advanced technology and healthcare specialists, clinical outcomes were worse. Interventions are urgently needed to ensure improved HF management considering the psychosocial determinants of health in Thailand.