© 2004 European Society of Cardiology
The diagnosis of heart failure in primary care: value of symptoms and signs
a Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Sciences School New University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
b EPICA Working Group Lisbon, Portugal
c Department of Cardiology, Medical Sciences School, New University of Lisbon Lisbon, Portugal
d Datamedica Ltd. Lisbon, Portugal
e Department of Medical Therapeutics, Medical Sciences School, New University of Lisbon Lisbon, Portugal
* Corresponding author. Current address: R. Salvador Barata Feyo n° 1 r/c D.to 2780-335 Oeiras, Portugal. Tel.: +351 21 443 81 61; fax: +351 21 301 7958.. E-mail address: candidafonseca{at}netc.pt
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Abstract |
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Background: The value of symptoms and signs in the diagnosis of CHF has rarely been tested in large numbers of patients in the community. The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of symptoms, signs, and past medical history in the diagnosis of CHF in primary care.
Methods: Data on a sample of Portuguese men and women attending 365 primary care centres for any condition other than the treatment of acute infection, metabolic conditions or pregnancy were collected. All subjects who scored three or more points in the sum of categories one and two of the Boston questionnaire (history and physical examination) and those being treated for heart failure with loop or thiazide diuretics were considered to have possible heart failure and referred for further assessment including a resting echocardiogram. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and likelihood ratio (LR) for the diagnosis of heart failure were calculated.
Results: A total of 5434 subjects were identified, of whom 1058 fulfilled the criteria for further assessment; 551 subjects had cardiac dysfunction at rest, of which 35.5% were in NYHA class I and 4.9% in class IV. Prior use of digoxin (LR 24.9) and/or diuretics (LR 10.6), a history of coronary artery disease (LR 7.1) or of pulmonary oedema (LR 54.2), were associated with a greater likelihood of having heart failure. Amongst current symptoms, a history of paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea (LR 35.5), orthopnea (LR 39.1) and breathlessness when walking on the flat (LR 25.8) were associated with a diagnosis of heart failure. However, these symptoms were not frequent amongst patients with heart failure within this population (sensitivity <36%). Jugular pressure > 6 cm with hepatic enlargement, and oedema of the lower limbs (LR 130.3), a ventricular gallop (LR 30.0), a heart rate above 110 bpm (LR 26.7), and rales at pulmonary auscultation (LR 23.3) were all associated with a diagnosis of heart failure, but were infrequent findings in patients with heart failure (sensitivity <10%).
Conclusions: Symptoms and signs, and clinical history had limited value in diagnosing heart failure when used alone. The signs and symptoms that best predicted a diagnosis of heart failure were those associated with more severe disease. If investigation is limited to patients with more definite symptoms and signs of heart failure, fewer than 50% of cases will be identified and a large number of patients with mild symptoms will be missed.
Key Words: Chronic heart failure • Diagnosis • Symptoms and signs • Primary care
Received July 6, 2004; Accepted August 25, 2004
1 Serviço de Medicina, Hospital S. Francisco Xavier, 1400 Lisboa, Portugal.
2 Grupo de Investigação EPICA, Av António Augusto de Aguiar 128, 1050 Lisboa, Portugal.
3 Serviço de Cardiologia, Hospital Pulido Valente, 1750 Lisboa, Portugal.
4 Current address: R. do Loreto no° 34-3° 1200 Lisboa, Portugal.
5 Datamedica, R. Garcia de Orta 70, 2 D, 1200 Lisboa, Portugal.
6 Current address: Av. Grão Vasco 47-1°-Esq 1500-336 Lisboa, Portugal.
7 EPICA Investigators and Steering Committee Members are listed in appendix (DOI: 10.1016/j.ejheart.2004.09.002).
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