Heart failure: confirmation of diagnosis

Indicator

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.

Introduction

Earlier diagnosis in primary care allows treatment initiation, potentially avoids emergency admission to hospital, and improves patient outcomes (Taylor et al. 2019). The NHS Long term Plan promises greater access to echocardiography to improve the early detection of heart failure.

The new indicator reduces the timeframe for confirming diagnosis after entry on the register to help ensure that people with heart failure receive the right diagnosis and receive timely treatment that can control symptoms, improve quality of life and help reduce premature mortality.

Resource impact

This revised indicator changes the timeframe to confirm diagnosis of heart failure with an echocardiogram or by specialist assessment from 12 months to 3 months.

No extra resource is required to conduct the echocardiogram or specialist assessment or maintain the register. There may be a saving from secondary care admissions avoided due to a more timely confirmation of diagnosis. 

The resource impact of the proposed indicator is unlikely to be significant.