title: Homecare for patients with heart failure in Italy.
abstract: BACKGROUND; Heart failure (HF) represents an important health issue in western countries, especially for the elderly, frail population. A number of HF patients must usually be assisted at home. No information is available about the usual care of HF patients in Italy. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of HF patients receiving homecare in the Italian general practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was sent to 320 general practitioners (GPs) involved in the Health Search project. Among these, 148 (46.2%) answered and 376 home-ridden HF patients (60.3% women, median age 85 years) were identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  257 (57%) patients were in NYHA class III or IV. Multiple relevant concomitant diseases occurred in 326 (86.7%) subjects. Only 140 (37.2%) patients were able to take their pills without any help; caregivers, mainly family members, were required 24 hours a day in 78.7% of cases. The length of homecare was > 1 year in 84.5% of cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to our data, thousands of HF patients are usually assisted at home for long periods in Italy. This is a very old group of subjects with heavy co-morbidity and a high need for continuous, prolonged assistance. Studies specifically aimed at the care of HF patients are needed.
authors.affiliation: Italian College of General Practitioners, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Filippi
authors.forename: Emiliano
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sessa
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pecchioli
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trifirò
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Samani
authors.forename: Giampiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mazzaglia
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000628:therapy*; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires