Primary care-based integrated disease management for heart failure: a study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION: Heart failure (HF) is a common chronic disease that increases in prevalence with age. It is associated with high hospitalisation rates, poor quality of life and high mortality. Management is complex with most interactions occurring in primary care. Disease management programmes implemented during or after an HF hospitalisation have been shown to reduce hospitalisation and mortality rates. Evidence for integrated disease management …