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- Title
Access and Referral to Heart Failure Clinics in Canada: A Narrative Review.
- Authors
Abrahamyan, Lusine; Ross, Heather; Gianetti, Nadia; Rac, Valeria; Virani, Sean; Wijeysundera, Harindra; Zieroth, Shelley; Howlett, Jonathan; Krahn, Murray; Soerensen, Iulia; Grace, Sherry L.
- Abstract
Background: Heart failure (HF) clinics are recommended for "high-risk" patients. Purpose: To narratively review: (1) what is known about the availability of HF clinics in Canada, (2) which patients access them in relation to guideline recommendations, and (3) multilevel factors affecting access. Methods: Search of Medline, and grey literature. Results: Most clinics exist in Quebec, Ontario, and British Colombia, but there are not enough. While little evidence exists (only two studies; one in Canada), few patients access these clinics (~10-20%), and there is access inequity. Referral criteria across guidelines are inconsistent, with variably-defined recommendations that "high-risk" patients be referred. Multi-factorial issues are at play, including referring hospital characteristics, type of treating healthcare professional, clinic-level factors, and patient-level factors, such as socioeconomic status. Conclusions: Heart failure clinic availability in Canada is insufficient, and access is inequitable. Implications: Cardiovascular nurses can help to promote and provide more optimal HF clinic access in Canada, to improve patient outcomes.
- Publication
Canadian Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 2020, Vol 30, Issue 3, p4
- ISSN
0843-6096
- Publication type
Academic Journal