Table 2.
Summary Characteristics of Included Trials
| Characteristics | Number of Trials |
|---|---|
| Continent and country | |
| Americas | |
| United States | 19 |
| Canada | 3 |
| Brazil | 1 |
| Europe | |
| Netherlands | 3 |
| Italy | 3 |
| Spain | 2 |
| Sweden | 2 |
| United Kingdom | 2 |
| Switzerland | 1 |
| Austria | 1 |
| Oceania | |
| New Zealand | 1 |
| Australia | 1 |
| Asia | |
| China | 1 |
| Hong Kong | 1 |
| Publication language: English | 41 |
| Number of arms | |
| 2 arms (intervention and usual care) | 37 |
| 3 arms (2 arms in addition to usual care)a | 4 |
| Unit of randomization | |
| Patient | 38 |
| Clusterb | 3 |
| First follow-up contact after discharge | |
| Within 1 week | 28 |
| Within 2 weeks | 9 |
| Within 1 month | 4 |
| Within 2 months | 1 |
| Unclear | 1 |
| Assessment of congestive heart failure severity, No. of trials (patients) | |
| LVEF only | 9 (1,321) |
| NYHA only | 8 (1,447) |
| LVEF and NYHA | 23 (8,172) |
| Not reported | 3 (420) |
| Assessment of diastolic function, No. of trials (patients) | 2 (285) |
| Mean LVEF | |
| <40% | 18 |
| ≥40% | 5 |
LVEF = left ventricular ejection fraction; NYHA = New York Heart Association.
a
Telephone vs video telephone follow-up. Follow-up by the multidisciplinary team vs guided by N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide level. In-clinic follow-up vs in-clinic follow-up with monthly telephone/home visits. Telephone follow-up vs telecare.
b
Clusters: primary care physicians or primary care clinics.