Heart Failure

Heart Failure National Project Overview

Heart failure accounts for more than 700,000 hospitalizations among Medicare beneficiaries every year, and is associated with high rates of mortality and morbidity. The National Heart Failure Project focuses on increasing the appropriate evaluation of left ventricular systolic function and the use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors in patients with reduced left ventricular systolic function in patients hospitalized with heart failure. 

Public Health Importance

Heart failure is a uniquely appropriate target for quality improvement efforts. It is a common disease in the elderly, accounting for more hospital admissions than any other diagnosis in patients over the age of 65. The prevalence of heart failure is rising dramatically with the aging of the US population. In addition, heart failure is associated with 20 to 30 percent one-year mortality rates in the elderly and causes significant functional limitation. Estimates of annual expenditures on heart failure in the United States range from $10 billion to $40 billion.

Main Objective

To decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with heart failure in Medicare beneficiaries. 

HF Measures

• HF-1 Discharge Instructions
• HF-2 Evaluation of LVS Function
• HF-3 ACEI or ARB for LVSD
• HF-4 Adult Smoking Cessation Advice/Counseling

Related Links (The following links open new windows):

• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
• American Heart Association (AHA)
• Heart Failure Society of America
• MedQIC National Heart Failure Quality Improvement Project

For more information about this project (including clinical background, performance measures, and references) please visit www.medqic.org/heartfailure or contact Hilaire Olson, Quality Improvement Specialist at 303-875-6975 or holson@coqio.sdps.org or Michelle Mills, Project Director, at mmills@coqio.sdps.org or 303-847-1727.