It is often said of heart failure that it is “the great forgotten” cardiovascular disease. Yet it is a chronic disease that “directly or indirectly concerns more than 3 million French people, whether patients or caregivers”, underlines cardiologist Thibaud Damy, president of the Optim’IC program. This program, around which 200 doctors have gathered, pleads in favor of better management of this little-known disease, via including early detection and information campaigns.
the Optim’IC program which brings together learned societies and patient associations involved in heart failure (French Hospital Federation, National College of French Cardiologists, Heart Alliance, etc.), points out “a diagnosis of heart failure that is often late”, “mainly hospital care mobilizing significant resources”, or even “a link between care between hospital medicine and city medicine to be optimized”.
What you need to know about heart failure
heart failure corresponds to an abnormality of the heart pump which no longer allows a sufficient supply of oxygen and nutrients. She affects 1.5 million people in France and is the leading cause of hospitalization for people over 65. “These hospitalizations are followed by numerous re-hospitalizations which impact the quality of life of patients and generate considerable health expenditure”, according to the Optim’IC program.
This chronic disease also causes more than 73,000 deaths per year, ie 7 times more than heart attacks and 14 times more than road accidents. This is why doctors advocate for systematic screening for the disease and for comorbidities. They also want an individual booklet to be set up for each patient in order to better follow the evolution of the disease.
>> The 5 warning signs: shortness of breath (on exertion or in a lying position), sudden weight gain (when the cardiac work is insufficient, the body reacts by retaining water and salt, which will cause weight gain in a few days), edema lower limbs, tiredness felt from the slightest effort and a cough which may occur at night while lying down and may suggest bronchitis or asthma.
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