Table 2: Results of the Heart Failure Studies and Components of the Heart Failure Programs*.
| Study | All-Cause Mortality RR (95% CI) | HF-Specific Mortality RR (95% CI) | All-Cause Hosp RR (95% CI) | HF-Specific Hosp RR (95% CI) | Primary Outcome | Team | Time to 1st Visit After Discharge | Availability Outside of Appointment | Nurse Change Meds? | Involvement of GP | Group Sessions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bruggink et al, 2005 (20) |
NS | — | — | NS | Mortality, readmit | HF physician, RN, RD | 1 week | Yes | No | None | No |
| Wierzchowiecki et al, 2005 (25) |
NS | NS | 0.63 (0.41–0.97) | 0.52 (0.29–0.94) | Unclear | Cardiologist, HF nurse, PT, psych | 2 weeks | Yes | No | GPs could call clinic | No |
| Mejhert et al, 2004 (22) |
0.59 (0.40–0.88) | — | NS | — | Quality of life | Cardiologist, RN | NR | NR | Yes | None | No |
| Stromberg et al, 2003 (24) |
0.36 (0.17–0.79) | 0.29 (0.12–0.72) | NS | — | Mortality, readmit | Cardiologist, HF nurse | 2–3 weeks | Yes | Yes | None | No |
| Doughty et al, 2002 (26) |
NS | — | NS | NS | Mortality, readmit | Cardiologist, HF nurse | 2 weeks | Yes | No | Every other visit was with GP | Yes |
| Dunagan et al, 2005 (19) |
NS | — | NS | NS | Readmit | RN, HF physician | 3 days | No | No | None | No |
| GESICA, 2005 (21) |
NS | 0.80 (0.68–0.95) | NS | 0.76 (0.61–0.93) | Mortality, hosp | RN | N/A | No | Yes, for diuretics | None | No |
*
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; GP, general practitioner; HF, heart failure; hosp, hospitalization; meds, medications; NR, not reported; NS, not significant; psych, psychologist; PT, physiotherapist; RD, registered dietitian; RN, registered nurse; RR, relative risk.