title: Organization of heart failure management in European Society of Cardiology member countries: survey of the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology in collaboration with the Heart Failure National Societies/Working Groups.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this document was to obtain a real-life contemporary analysis of the demographics and heart failure (HF) statistics, as well as the organization and major activities of the Heart Failure National Societies (HFNS) in European Society of Cardiology (ESC) member countries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from 33 countries were collected from HFNS presidents/representatives during the first Heart Failure Association HFNS Summit (Belgrade, Serbia, 29 October 2011). Data on incidence and/or prevalence of HF were available for 22 countries, and the prevalence of HF ranged between 1% and 3%. In five European and one non-European ESC country, heart transplantation was reported as not available. Natriuretic peptides and echocardiography are routinely applied in the management of acute HF in the median of 80% and 90% of centres, respectively. Eastern European and Mediterranean countries have lower availability of natriuretic peptide testing for acute HF patients, compared with other European countries. Almost all countries have organizations dealing specifically with HF. HFNS societies for HF patients exist in only 12, while in 16 countries HF patient education programmes are active. Most HFNS reported that no national HF registry exists in their country. Fifteen HFNS produced national HF guidelines, while 19 have translated the ESC HF guidelines. Most HFNS (n = 23) participated in the organization of the European HF Awareness Day.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This document demonstrated significant heterogeneity in the organization of HF management, and activities of the national HF working groups/associations. High availability of natriuretic peptide and echocardiographic measurements was revealed, with differences between developed countries and countries in transition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Clinical Center of Serbia and Belgrade University School of Medicine, Serbia. seferovic@med.bg.ac.rs
authors.forename: Petar M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Seferovic
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stoerk
authors.forename: Gerasimos
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Filippatos
authors.forename: Viacheslav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mareev
authors.forename: Ausra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kavoliuniene
authors.forename: Arsen D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Ristic
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ponikowski
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McMurray
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maggioni
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ruschitzka
authors.forename: Dirk J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: van Veldhuisen
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coats
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piepoli
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McDonagh
authors.forename: Jillian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Riley
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoes
authors.forename: Burkert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pieske
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dobric
authors.forename: Zoltan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Papp
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mebazaa
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parissis
authors.forename: Tuvia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ben Gal
authors.forename: Dragos
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vinereanu
authors.forename: Dulce
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brito
authors.forename: Johann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Altenberger
authors.forename: Plamen
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gatzov
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Milinkovic
authors.forename: Jaromír
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hradec
authors.forename: Jean-Noel
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Trochu
authors.forename: Offer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Amir
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moura
authors.forename: Mitja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lainscak
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Comin
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wikström
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anker
mesh_terms: D002309:Cardiology / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D019468:Disease Management; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D015995:Prevalence; D012042:Registries; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Heart Failure Association; National societies; Organization of heart failure management