Heart failure: confirmation of diagnosis

This indicator covers the percentage of patients with a diagnosis of heart failure after (start date) which has been confirmed by an echocardiogram or by specialist assessment between 3 months before or 3 months after entering on to the register. It measures outcomes that reflect the quality of care or processes linked by evidence to improved outcomes.

Last reviewed: August 2019

Next review: September 2026

This indicator will be reviewed using the assessment criteria in appendix B of the NICE indicators process guide when it reaches its review date or the underlying guidance is updated.

This indicator was previously published as NM171.

How to use NICE indicators and how we develop them

Indicators can be used in a number of different settings to support high quality care. These include:

• identifying where improvements are needed
• setting priorities for quality improvement and support
• creating local performance dashboards
• benchmarking performance against national data
• supporting local quality improvement schemes
• showing progress that local health systems are making on outcomes.

Find out how to use indicators and how we develop them.