title: Rationale, Design, Methodology and Hospital Characteristics of the First Gulf Acute Heart Failure Registry (Gulf CARE).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is paucity of data on heart failure (HF) in the Gulf Middle East. The present paper describes the rationale, design, methodology and hospital characteristics of the first Gulf acute heart failure registry (Gulf CARE).
  
  
  METHODS
  Gulf CARE is a prospective, multicenter, multinational registry of patients >18 year of age admitted with diagnosis of acute HF (AHF). The data collected included demographics, clinical characteristics, etiology, precipitating factors, management and outcomes of patients admitted with AHF. In addition, data about hospital readmission rates, procedures and mortality at 3 months and 1-year follow-up were recorded. Hospital characteristics and care provider details were collected. Data were entered in a dedicated website using an electronic case record form.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 5005 consecutive patients were enrolled from February 14, 2012 to November 13, 2012. Forty-seven hospitals in 7 Gulf States (Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Kuwait, United Gulf Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain) participated in the project. The majority of hospitals were community hospitals (46%; 22/47) followed by non-University teaching (32%; 15/47 and University hospitals (17%). Most of the hospitals had intensive or coronary care unit facilities (93%; 44/47) with 59% (28/47) having catheterization laboratory facilities. However, only 29% (14/47) had a dedicated HF clinic facility. Most patients (71%) were cared for by a cardiologist.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gulf CARE is the first prospective registry of AHF in the Middle East, intending to provide a unique insight into the demographics, etiology, management and outcomes of AHF in the Middle East. HF management in the Middle East is predominantly provided by cardiologists. The data obtained from this registry will help the local clinicians to identify the deficiencies in HF management as well as provide a platform to implement evidence based preventive and treatment strategies to reduce the burden of HF in this region.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Kadhim J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Sulaiman
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Royal Hospital, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Prashanth
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Panduranga
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Sultan Qaboos University and Gulf Health Research, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Al-Zakwani
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Alawi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alsheikh-Ali
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, King Fahad Cardiac Centre, King Khalid University Hospital, College of Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Al-Habib
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Hamad General Hospital, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Jassim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Al-Suwaidi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Wael
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Al-Mahmeed
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, Security Forces Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Husam
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Al-Faleh
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Prince Salman Cardiac Center, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdelfatah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El-Asfar
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Motarreb
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Adan Hospital, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ridha
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Al-Amiri Hospital, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Bassam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bulbanat
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Al-Amiri Hospital, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al-Jarallah
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Dubai Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Nooshin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bazargani
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Hamad General Hospital, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Nidal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Asaad
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Mohammed Bin Khalifa Cardiac Centre, Bahrain.
authors.forename: Haitham
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Amin
keywords: Acute heart failure; gulf; heart failure; middle east