AHA survey reveals misconceptions about HF in US

Issue: August 2015

Results of a survey conducted by the American Heart Association indicated that half of the respondents got fundamental facts about HF wrong and two-thirds of respondents confused signs of HF with signs of an MI.

The online survey, supported by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, included more than 1,600 people, including the general public, patients with HF and their caregivers. The survey was conducted in the spring of 2014 as the first annual assessment of HF awareness in the United States, according to the release.

Seventy percent of those surveyed indicated overall awareness of HF. However, 58% believe that HF occurs naturally when the heart stops beating, and 46% believe there are no symptoms of HF, according to the results.

In addition, the responses suggested that caregivers were more affected by HF than their patients. Caregivers reported more anxiety (75% vs. 63%) and depression (69% vs. 56%) when dealing with HF compared with the patients. Furthermore, 86% of caregivers believe that HF reduces the ability to travel vs. 54% of patients, and more caregivers reported that HF limits participation in family events (82% vs. 65%), hobbies (87% vs. 71%) and impacts relationships (75% vs. 56%).

Gregg Fonarow

The AHA will pursue additional feedback from patients, caregivers and health care providers regarding their experiences and challenges with HF management in the upcoming months, according to the release.

“The significant issues associated with [HF] can’t be solved by any one organization,” Gregg Fonarow, MD, director of the Ahmanson-UCLA Cardiomyopathy Center and co-chief of the UCLA division of cardiology in Los Angeles, said in the release. “These insights and further findings from the survey can guide us as we bring together individuals and organizations to provide solutions that will truly make an impact on patients and their loved ones.”

Disclosure: The survey was supported by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.