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J Am Coll Cardiol, 2003; 41:62-68 © 2003 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation |
,*
* Cardiology Division, San Francisco VAMC, San Francisco, California, USA
Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, Northern California Region, Oakland, USA
Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
Manuscript received May 28, 2002; revised manuscript received July 1, 2002, accepted July 18, 2002.
* Reprint requests and correspondence: Dr. Barry M. Massie, Cardiology Division (111C), San Francisco VAMC, 4150 Clement Street, San Francisco, California 94121, USA.
barry.massie{at}med.va.gov
OBJECTIVES: This study examined the outcomes of new-onset heart failure (HF) outpatients managed by cardiologists and primary care (PC) physicians.
BACKGROUND: Several studies have sought differences in outcomes between patients with HF managed by cardiologists and PC physicians, but most focused on inpatients, who often represent later stages of HF, whereas many treatments have their impact by delaying disease progression.
METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of incident HF identified between 1996 and 1997 in a staff model health maintenance organization. Cardiology care was defined as 
2 visits or 25% of total medical outpatient visits to cardiology. Records from a cohort of 403 patients with new-onset outpatient HF were reviewed. The main outcome measure was a combination of death and/or cardiovascular hospitalization at 24 months.
RESULTS: Cardiologists’ patients (n = 198) were younger (66 vs. 71 years, p = 0.001), were more likely men (54% vs. 46%, p = 0.01), had coronary artery disease (64% vs. 42%, p = 0.001), and had a low (
45%) ejection fraction (EF) (66% vs. 44%, p < 0.001) compared with PC physicians’ patients. More cardiologists’ patients received an EF assessment (94% vs. 74%, p < 0.001), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (83% vs. 68%, p < 0.001), and beta-blockers (38% vs. 22%, p < 0.001). In multivariate proportional hazards modeling that included variables that differed between providers and univariate predictors of outcomes, cardiology care was an independent predictor of a lower risk for the combined outcome (hazard ratio 0.62, confidence interval 0.42 to 0.93, p = 0.02).
CONCLUSIONS: Cardiology care at this early stage of HF is associated with improved guideline adherence and a reduced risk of the composite outcome of death plus cardiovascular hospitalization.
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