title: Characteristics and Course of Heart Failure Stages A-B and Determinants of Progression - design and rationale of the STAAB cohort study.
abstract: Background Data from the general population on the natural course of heart failure is lacking. The objectives of the STAAB cohort study are to determine the prevalence of heart failure stages A-B in a representative sample of the general population and to prospectively investigate the progression from asymptomatic cardiac dysfunction into symptomatic heart failure. Here we present study design, participation rates and baseline characteristics of the first 1468 enrolled subjects. Methods A random sample of inhabitants from the city of Würzburg stratified by age (30-79 years) and gender was drawn from the local registration office. Subjects receive invitation letters, while send-out batches are continuously adapted to response rates by age and gender. At baseline examination, data on echocardiographic cardiac function, comorbidities and preclinical cardiovascular phenotypes are collected. After 3-5 years, changes in cardiac function and occurrence of clinical events will be assessed in a follow-up visit. Results Between December 2013 and April 2015, 4499 subjects were invited; of those, 1510 (34.6%) responded positively, and 1468 were examined (32.6%). Stratified recruitment was on-target while the participation rate was highest in subjects aged 60-69 years (38%). Hypertension (42%) and dyslipidaemia (37%) were the most commonly reported comorbidities; 7% reported on diabetes and 23% of men ( vs. 17% of women) were smokers. Conclusions STAAB recruits a representative population-based sample suited to provide reliable estimates of the frequency of asymptomatic cardiac dysfunction and determinants of disease progression into symptomatic heart failure. These findings will build the ground for developing preventive strategies for heart failure at different stages of the disease continuum.
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry, University of Würzburg, Germany.|2 Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, University of Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry, University of Würzburg, Germany.|2 Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, University of Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tiffe
authors.affiliation: 2 Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, University of Würzburg, Germany.|3 Department of Medicine I, Division of Cardiology, University Hospital Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morbach
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry, University of Würzburg, Germany.|4 Clinical Trial Center Würzburg, University Hospital Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Götz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gelbrich
authors.affiliation: 2 Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, University of Würzburg, Germany.|3 Department of Medicine I, Division of Cardiology, University Hospital Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Störk
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute of Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry, University of Würzburg, Germany.|2 Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, University of Würzburg, Germany.|4 Clinical Trial Center Würzburg, University Hospital Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter U
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Heuschmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D018450:Disease Progression; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006334:Heart Function Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Population-based study; heart failure; prevalence; risk factors