1. Time after discharge (days)
Care in specialist units reduces the likelihood of death in hospital or soon after discharge 20 40 60 80
100
Survival rate (%)
Cardiology
General medicine
Other
200
300
400
Time after discharge (days)
Teamwork between cardiologists and other physicians and nurses is essential
Emergency department
Internal medicine
Intensive care
Outside hospital
Patients and public alike can recognize ‘good care’
Notes
A variety of sources show that if patients are looked after by an expert in heart failure, they are very much more likely to survive an emergency admission and to have a better long term outcome. This slide shows data from the UK to illustrate this point.
The panel recommends more expert involvement in hospital for patients admitted with heart failure, irrespective of the age of the patient.
Reference
Cleland J, Dargie H, Hardman S, McDonagh T, Mitchell P. National Heart Failure Audit: April 2011–March London: National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research, 2012.
Reproduced with permission from National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (NICOR), University College London, UK