European Heart Journal Advance Access originally published online on August 31, 2005
European Heart Journal 2005 26(22):2413-2421; doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehi447
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Public awareness of heart failure in Europe: first results from SHAPE
1Sticares Cardiovascular Research Foundation, PO Box 882, 3160 AB Rhoon, The Netherland
2University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
3Institut für Herzinfarktforschung, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
4Hôpital Jeanne d'Arc, Dommartin-lès-Toul, France
5Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy, France
6Hospital Universitario Gregorio Maranon, Madrid, Spain
7University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
8University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
9Ospedale S. Giovanni-Addolorata, Rome, Italy
10Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
11Romanian Society of Cardiology, Bucharest, Romania
12Franz-Volhard-Klinik, Berlin, Germany
13National Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Poland
Received 23 May 2005; revised 7 July 2005; accepted 13 July 2005; online publish-ahead-of-print 31 August 2005.
* Corresponding author. Tel: +31 10 485 51 77; fax: +31 10 485 48 33. E-mail address: w.j.remme{at}sticares.org
Aims Appropriate heart failure (HF) care and adequate resourcing require recognition of its clinical, social, and economic importance by the general public besides healthcare authorities and providers. The extent of public awareness in Europe is not known.
Methods and results A total of 7958 subjects were randomly selected from nine European countries (minimum 100/group per country). Each completed a 32-question survey on HF covering recognition, impact on health, comparative prevalence and severity, treatment, and costs. Although 86% of respondents had heard of HF, only 3% could correctly identify HF from a description of typical symptoms and signs, 31% correctly identified angina, and 51% identified transient ischaemic attack/stroke. Only 29% thought that HF signs and symptoms indicate a ‘severe’ condition. Most thought that HF patients should reduce all physical activity and 34% believed HF a normal consequence of ageing. Sixty-seven per cent thought that HF patients live longer than cancer patients. Only 9% believed that HF leads to greater healthcare expenditure than cancer, HIV, or diabetes. Overall, responses were comparable between countries.
Conclusion In Europe, community awareness of HF is low. Therefore, the general public is unlikely to demand appropriate measures by healthcare authorities and providers. A better understanding of HF could improve its prevention and management. Strategies to educate the public about HF are needed.
Key Words: Heart failure • Questionnaires • Public opinion • Europe • Knowledge • Attitudes • Practice
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