The Value of Admission Clinical Data for Diagnosing Heart Failure in Long-term Care

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is common in long-term care (LTC). Diagnostic uncertainty is important barrier to optimal HF management, stemming from inadequate health information transfer upon LTC admission. We determine the utility of admission clinical information to confirm a HF diagnosis in new LTC residents. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study. From February 2004 to November 2006, information about new residents from 41 LTC homes …