A Portuguese Expert Panel Position Paper on the Management of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction - Part II: Unmet Needs and Organization of Care in Portugal.

In Portugal, a 15.2% prevalence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) was recently identified among those aged ≥50 years. HFpEF represents 90% of Portuguese heart failure patients. HFpEF management in Portugal is challenging due to patient heterogeneity, diagnostic and therapeutic complexity, and organizational constraints on the healthcare system. Considering the above, a panel of Portuguese experts convened to address HFpEF management within the national context. This was done in a two-paper set. This, the second paper, identifies unmet needs and suggests a set of measures to improve the current organization of HFpEF management in Portugal. Our purpose is to create a multidisciplinary integrated care system, ensuring a seamless connection between hospitals and primary care. Additionally, we propose a practical approach to the management of HFpEF, including a roadmap for screening, diagnosis, referral and treatment. The aim is to help clinicians improve HFpEF management throughout the disease trajectory.

Keywords

Critical Pathways Disease Management* Health Services Needs and Demand Heart Failure Diastolic* / diagnosis Diastolic* / therapy Humans Portugal Roadmap HFpEF HSM CAR