title: [The German National Disease Management Guideline "Chronic Heart Failure"].
abstract: Chronic heart failure (CHF) is an illness mostly affecting elderly people. In                     Germany CHF is one of the most common causes of death and at the same time one                     of the most common diagnosis in inpatient care. Due to the expected increase in                     life expectancy in the next few years experts predict a further step-up of the                     incidence. Against this background development of a national guideline on                     chronic heart failure was prioritised and accordingly the National Disease                         Management Guideline (NDMG) Chronic Heart Failure was developed by a                     multi- and interdisciplinary group. The guideline group comprised experts from                     all relevant scientific medical societies as well as a patient expert. The                         National Disease Management Guideline (NDMG) on Chronic Heart                         Failure aims at supporting patients and health care providers with                     respect to decisions on a specific health care problem by giving recommendations                     for actions. Recommendations are informed by the best available scientific                     evidence on this topic.Patients with CHF often suffer from multiple conditions. Due to this fact and the                     old age patients do have very complex and demanding health care needs. Thus                     accounting for co-morbidities is paramount in planning and providing health care                     for theses patients and communication between doctor and patient but also                     between all health care providers is crucial.Basic treatment strategies in chronic heart failure comprise management of risk                     factors and prognostic factors as well as appropriate consideration of                     co-morbidities accompanied by measures empowering patients in establishing a                     healthy life style and a self-dependant management of their illness.Psycho-social aspects have a very strong influence on patients' acceptance of the                     disease and their self-management. In addition they have a strong influence on                     therapy management of the treating physician thus they have to be addressed                     adequately during the consultation.The National Disease Management Guideline (NDMG) Chronic Heart Failure                     (CHF) is an interdisciplinary guideline putting particular emphasis on                     giving recommendations for health care management at the interfaces of the                     health care system. The NDMG CHF provides a collection of evidence-based and                     consensus-based recommendations for diagnostics and therapy of patients with                     CHF. This CPG is meant to improve health care for all affected patients                     regardless of stage of disease or health care setting. Quality improvement                     though can only happen when the NDMG CHF is adopted into daily routine. To                     support implementation a patient version of the guideline was developed. The                     article compiles the most relevant recommendations and algorithms of the                     National Disease Management Guideline (NDMG) Chronic Heart Failure (CHF).
authors.affiliation: Ärztliches Zentrum für Qualität in der Medizin, Berlin. weinbrenner@azq.de
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weinbrenner
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scherer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Störk
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ertl
authors.forename: Ch
authors.initials: Ch
authors.lastname: Muth
authors.forename: U C
authors.initials: UC
authors.lastname: Hoppe
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kopp
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ollenschläger
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D019468:Disease Management; D005858:Germany; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012307:Risk Factors