Abstracts by key term: chronic heart failure
Heart failure is one of the most medically and health-economically important diseases in Germany (Neumann et al. 2009; Gensichen et al. 2004; Zugck et al. 2010; Willich et al. 2013; Buhr et al. 2007). The prevalence of heart failure is strongly age-dependent, so it can be assumed that the costs for diagnosis and treatment of heart failure will increase in the coming years in view of the aging German population. A large part of the treatment costs for heart failure arise in the inpatient area (Zugck et al. 2010). Against this background, effective integrated care programs have the potential to improve the care of heart failure patients and at the same time prevent decompensations, which are particularly often treated in the inpatient setting. Effective new care programs make it possible to optimize treatment processes, especially in the outpatient area, and to actively involve patients in the treatment concept (Buhr et al. 2007).