A recent study published in the BCS-BMJ owned Open Heart journal, revealed substantial variations in referrals for advanced heart failure therapies across the UK and Ireland.
The study presents the results of the inaugural UK and Ireland National Advanced Heart Failure Audit Report 2024 of its kind, conducted by the Transplant Cardiology Working Group to promote quality improvement in caring for patients with advanced heart failure (AHF). Our colleagues at the BMJ have issued a press release on the study.
Dr Rajiv Sankaranarayanan, Vice-President of Digital, Communications and Marketing for the British Cardiovascular Society, commented: “This first national audit of advanced heart failure referrals highlights striking inequities in access to life-prolonging therapies across the UK and Ireland. Particularly concerning is the under-representation of women, who accounted for only one third of referrals, despite comparable disease burden.
“Collectively, this work provides a powerful call to standardise referral pathways, improve equity of access, and strengthen advanced heart failure infrastructure nationally to ensure that potentially life-saving therapies are available to all suitable patients, irrespective of postcode or sex.”
Full title: Overview of findings from the UK and Ireland National Advanced Heart Failure Audit 2024