Chronic heart failure: time to optimise methods of diagnosis in the community

Buchan, Heather H; Phillips, Susan M; Weekes, Lynn M; Mackson, Judith M; Boyden, Andrew N; Tonkin, Andrew M

doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2006.tb00303.x

Topics

To the Editor: Investigators in the recent Canberra Heart Study1 highlighted the importance of improving the detection of heart failure in the community, given the high proportion of people with preclinical disease. The accompanying editorial2 expressed concern about the lack of major Australian initiatives that focus on the prevention and treatment of this disease.

1 National Institute of Clinical Studies, Melbourne, VIC.
2 National Prescribing Service, Sydney, NSW.
3 National Heart Foundation of Australia, Canberra, ACT.
4 National Heart Foundation of Australia, Melbourne, VIC.

Correspondence: sphillips@nicsl.com.au

1. Abhayaratna WP, Smith WT, Becker NG, et al. Prevalence of heart failure and systolic ventricular dysfunction in older Australians: the Canberra Heart Study. Med J Aust 2006; 184: 151-154. <MJA full text>
2. Krum H, Stewart S. Chronic heart failure: time to recognise this major public health problem. Med J Aust 2006; 184: 147-148. <MJA full text>
3. Phillips SM, Davies JM, Tofler G. NICS Heart Failure Forum: improving outcomes in chronic care. Med J Aust 2004; 181: 297-299. <MJA full text>
4. National Prescribing Service Limited. Improving drug use in heart failure program. Available at: http://www.nps.org.au (follow links to Health Professionals, Topics & Resources, and select Heart Failure) (accessed Feb 2006).
5. National Institute of Clinical Studies. “Let’s talk about heart failure”. Patient information booklet by the National Heart Foundation Australia and National institute of Clinical Studies Heart Failure Patient Resources Directory. Available at: http://www.nicsl.com.au (follow Quick Links to Heart Failure Directory) (accessed Feb 2006).
6. Australian Government Department of Veterans‘ Affairs. Veterans’ MATES (Medicines Advice and Therapeutics Education Services). Available at: http://www.dva.gov.au/health/veteransmates (accessed Feb 2006).

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