Heart failure & cardiomyopathiesCross-sectional study
Practices and barriers in screening for cognitive impairment in heart failure: a clinician survey
- anonymous cross-sectional survey
Authors' conclusion
There is a gap between awareness of and testing for CI in HF patients, with the latter not being affected by clinicians’ patient load. Since there is universal interest in learning, integrating screening tools into daily routines and creating clear referral pathways may help in addressing this evidence-practice gap.
Study context
- Population
- Cardiologists across clinics in the Hellenic Heart Failure Clinics Network managing heart failure (HF) patientscardiologists completed the survey, of 120 surveyed across 68 clinics, response rate 42.5%
- Participants
- Fifty-one cardiologists
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Among respondents, reported awareness of the high prevalence of cognitive decline
80%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Systematic screening for CI presence
- Among respondents, systematically screened for CI presence
- 14%
Main barriers reported
- Lack of time
- 76%
- Inadequate familiarity with assessment tools
- 50%
Screening frequency and HF patient volume
- Not associated (χ2)
- χ2 = 4.75, P = .58
- Pearson’s chi-square
Knowledge on CI and frequency of screening
- Significant correlation (V)
- V = 0.37, P = .04
Frequency of screening and support of establishing screening as routine practice
- Significant correlation (V)
- V = 0.50, P < .001
Frequency of screening and referral of patients to specialists
- Significant correlation (V)
- V = 0.39, P = .007
Interest in further education
- All respondents expressed interest in further education
Original publication
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it