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European Heart Journal Advance Access published online on August 31, 2005
European Heart Journal, doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehi447
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European Heart Journal © The European Society of Cardiology 2005; all rights reserved
Received May 23, 2005
Revised July 7, 2005
Accepted July 13, 2005

Clinical research

Public awareness of heart failure in Europe: first results from SHAPE

Willem J. Remme 1*, John J.V. McMurray 2, Bernhard Rauch 3, Faiez Zannad 4, Karen Keukelaar 1, Alain Cohen-Solal 5, José Lopez-Sendon 6, F.D. Richard Hobbs 7, Diederick E. Grobbee 8, Alessandro Boccanelli 9, Charles Cline 10, Cezar Macarie 11, Rainer Dietz 12, and Witold Ruzyllo 13

1 Sticares Cardiovascular Research Foundation, PO Box 882, 3160 AB Rhoon, The Netherland
2 University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
3 Institut für Herzinfarktforschung, Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany
4 Hôpital Jeanne d'Arc, Dommartin-lès-Toul, France
5 Hôpital Beaujon, Clichy, France
6 Hospital Universitario Gregorio Maranon, Madrid, Spain
7 University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
8 University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
9 Ospedale S. Giovanni-Addolorata, Rome, Italy
10 Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
11 Romanian Society of Cardiology, Bucharest, Romania
12 Franz-Volhard-Klinik, Berlin, Germany
13 National Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Poland

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Willem J. Remme, E-mail: w.j.remme{at}sticares.org


  Abstract

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.

Keywords: Heart failure; Questionnaires; Public opinion; Europe; Knowledge; Attitudes; Practice.
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