BNP Guided Care in Addition to Multidisciplinary Care

NT-BNP Guided Care in Addition to Multidisciplinary Care in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure A Three-Arm, Prospective, Randomised Study

HF is associated with repeated hospitalisations and poor prognosis.The aim of this study is to investigate whether BNP-guided care (BGC) in addition to multidisciplinary management(MM) improves outcome compared to HNC alone or usual care (UC) for decompensated HF patients after discharge.

Patients hospitalised with cardiac decompensation in 9 Viennese hospitals are randomised to BGC, MM alone, or UC. MM includes 2 consultations of a heart failure (HF) specialist 10 days and 2 months after discharge for recommending medical optimisation and care by a specialised HF nurse including 4 home visits and telephone contact. In addition, BGC includes intensified increase of medical treatment during repeated follow-up visits in a HF clinic in patients with an Nt-BNP level above 2200pg/ml at discharge.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Clinical signs and symptoms of cardiac decompensation during the present hospitalisation
2. NYHA class III or IV at time of admission
3. Cardiothoracic ratio > 0.5, and/or left ventricular ejection fraction <40% documented by echocardiography

Exclusion Criteria:

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