The majority of patients with heart failure are diagnosed and managed in primary care.
Recent advances in diagnostic tools and improvement of treatment strategies (non-pharmacological, pharmacological and devices) have important implications for the role of primary care in heart failure management. The development of disease management programmes emphasizes the importance of establishing fruitful collaborations between general practitioners, cardiologists, heart failure nurses and other health care professionals in improving quality of care.
This course provides a comprehensive up-to-date overview of evidence-based management of patients with heart failure in the primary care setting. The course is intended for primary care physicians responsible for the management for patients with heart failure.
The course will include:
- Optimal diagnostic assessment of patients suspected of heart failure in primary care
- Non-pharmacological, pharmacological and device therapy
- Management of co-morbidities such as ischaemic heart disease, COPD and depression
- Optimising the collaboration between hospital, heart failure clinic and primary care
- Interactive clinical case discussions, debate and workshops
Preliminary Programme
Thursday 13 November | Friday 14 November | Saturday 15
This programme has been accredited by the European Board for Accreditation in Cardiology (EBAC) for 12 hours of External CME credits.
Each participant should claim only those hours of credit that have been actually spent in the educational activity.
Thursday 13 November
| 10:00 - 13:45 |
Registration |
| 12:30 - 13:45 |
Lunch |
|
13:45
|
Welcome & introduction – K. Dickstein |
| 14:00 - 15:30 |
Chairpersons: A. Hoes & K. Dickstein
- A global perspective on heart failure: What is the impact of the heart failure epidemic – R. Hobbs
- Diagnosis: clinical skills, investigations, and biomarkers – K. Dickstein
- Diagnostic algorithms for primary care: (very) recent evidence – A. Hoes
|
| 15:30 - 16:00 |
Coffee/Tea break |
| 16:00 - 17:30 |
Chairpersons: R. Hobbs & C.E. Angermann
- Shifting paradigms in the epidemiology of heart failure. Relevance for treatment – K. McDonald
- Heart failure management programmes: State of the evidence & role of the nurse – L. Blue
- Interactive case discussion – R. Hobbs & K. McDonald
|
Friday 14 November
| 09:00 - 10:00 |
Chairpersons: K. McDonald & A. Hoes
- Addressing compliance in primary care – A. Hoes
- Prevalence and prognostic importance of comorbidities in heart failure – C.E. Angermann
- How should we diagnose heart failure in a patient with lung disease? – F.H. Rutten
|
| 10:30 - 11:00 |
Coffee/Tea break |
| 11:00 - 13:00 |
Chairpersons: C. Angermann & F.H. Rutten
- Neglected aspects of treatment: non-pharmacological management – L. Blue
- Pharmacological management – K. McDonald
- How to initiate beta-blocker treatment in primary care: the challenge – F.H. Rutten
|
| 13:00 - 14:00 |
Lunch |
| 14:00 - 17:00 |
Workshops
- Diagnosing heart failure in primary care – C.E. Angermann & A. Hoes
- Pharmacological treatment in primary care – K. McDonald & F.H. Rutten
- Worsening heart failure out of hospital: Therapeutic options – L. Blue, R. Hobbs & K. Dickstein
|
Saturday 15 November
| 09:00 - 10:30 |
Chairpersons: R. Hobbs & L. Blue
- What do GPs need to know about devices in heart failure? – K. Dickstein
- Palliative care: What can we learn from each other? – F.H. Rutten & C.E. Angermann
- Is ongoing research relevant for primary care? – A. Hoes
|
| 10:30 - 11:00 |
Coffee/Tea break |
| 11:00 - 11:50 |
Chairpersons: K. McDonald & L. Blue
- Debate: Does depression in heart failure exist and should it be treated?Pro: F.H. Rutten & C.E. Angermann
Con: K. Dickstein & R. Hobbs
|
| 11:50 - 12:00 |
Take home messages: A. Hoes |
EBAC works according to the quality standards of the European Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (EACCME), which is an institution of the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). In compliance with EBAC/EACCME guidelines, all speakers/chairpersons participating in this programme have disclosed or indicated potential conflicts of interest which might cause a bias in the presentations. The Organizing Committee/Course Director is responsible for ensuring that all potential conflicts of interest relevant to the event are declared to the audience prior to the CME activities.