Big difference in heart failure mortality rates shown by largest ever audit in England and Wales

Groundbreaking findings from the largest ever heart failure audit in England and Wales reveal a big difference in mortality rates between those who receive specialist cardiology services when they are admitted to hospital and those who do not.

The third report from the National Heart Failure Audit, which analysed more than 21,000 patient records, suggests about 32 per cent of heart failure patients will die within a year of their hospital admission.

However the mortality rate falls to 23 per cent for those are seen by a cardiologist or have access to specialist heart failure services.

In-patient mortality is also twice as likely for a heart failure patient if they are on a non cardiac ward; at 12 per cent compared to 6 per cent.

The third audit report presents the most robust findings to date about patient mortality for heart failure – which affects about one in every hundred people in the UK and rises to one in 15 for those aged 75 and over.

Please read full press release here and download National Heart Failure Audit 2010 here.