General practitioners (GPs) play a central role in healthcare, serving as the first point of contact, making appropriate referrals and coordinating care for chronic conditions such as heart failure (HF). This study sought to determine healthcare use by people with HF in primary care.
Analysis of the clinical data showed that patients with HF saw GPs 14.4 times per annum on average; 59.5% had a General Practice Management Plan (GPMP), 2.9% of GPMPs were reviewed annually or more frequently, and 46.8% of patients had been referred to a cardiologist. A total of 3761 had coexisting anxiety or depression, and of these 37.1% had a mental health plan.
Patients with HF visit their GP frequently, with many not reaching guideline therapy nor referred to cardiologists. Low use of care planning and reviews presents an opportunity for GPs to improve care.
To read more, visit https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36045629/