An insight into healthcare support in treating heart failure revealed the economic burden and awareness issues. Over half of the healthcare centres in the Asia Pacific region receive reimbursements with co-payments for heart failure treatment, while nearly a quarter receive no reimbursements, raising concerns about accessibility to essential medications and devices for heart failure patients.
According to an insight, 53% of healthcare centres received reimbursements with co-payments for heart failure treatment, and 23% received no reimbursements. The survey also highlighted other gaps, including low patient awareness (74%), late referral for heart failure care (71%), and a need for physician knowledge and awareness (57%).
Diagnosing heart failure can be challenging due to low awareness and knowledge among the public, patients, and physicians. The symptoms are nonspecific, making early diagnosis difficult. Patients in the Asia Pacific region may stay in the hospital for five to 12.5 days during treatment, and 15% of heart failure patients are readmitted to the hospital.
The importance of biomarker testing, specifically natriuretic peptides (NP), for diagnosing and monitoring heart failure was emphasised. Using biomarkers can provide more effective assessment tools for clinicians to diagnose and track disease progression confidently, ultimately reducing readmissions.
It also showed the urgency of treating heart failure, comparing it to the rapid response seen in cancer treatment. Proper management of heart failure can lead to some improvement in the patient’s quality of life.
It also highlighted the risk of severe complications from influenza, particularly for individuals with existing heart disease or risk factors. Influenza can worsen heart disease and may trigger heart attacks, making it crucial for vulnerable individuals to take preventive measures.