Undetected heart failure a big problem in care homes, says research

Undetected heart failure a big problem in care homes, says research. One in five elderly people living in care homes may be living with undiagnosed heart failure, according to research. The researchers, led by Durham University, diagnosed heart failure in almost a quarter of the residents within the study with the vast majority of these cases previously undiagnosed. The study also found that three quarters of previously recorded cases of heart failure were misdiagnosed. The study suggests heart failure, and the accurate diagnosis of it, is a much bigger problem in care homes than previously believed with people's quality of life severely affected. The scientists say early accurate diagnosis of different types of heart failure is key to effective management of the condition which may be failing in long-term care facilities. The study is published in the European Journal of Heart Failure and was conducted by Durham University, Darlington Memorial Hospital and The James Cook University Hospital. The Heart Failure in Care Homes (HFinCH) study was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Research for Patient Benefit Programme. The scientists medically examined 399 residents aged 65-100 years in 33 UK care facilities. The presence of heart failure was determined by an evaluation of symptoms and signs, functional capacity, quality of life, portable on-site echocardiography* and review of the medical record. Heart failure is a condition in which the heart does not pump blood around the body effectively. Symptoms often include breathlessness, tiredness and swelling of the legs and ankles.