Collaborative Care Might Not Help Heart-Failure Patients

Surprising, negative results for a multidisciplinary, symptom-directed intervention

Patients with heart failure (HF) often have myriad symptoms that diminish quality of life despite the availability of effective therapies, at least for patients with reduced systolic function. Investigators in the Veterans Affairs system conducted a multisite, randomized, controlled, single-blind trial of a collaborative care intervention to determine its impact on health status in 314 patients with HF (mean age, 66); 21% were women, and 57% had reduced ejection fraction.

The collaborative care program consisted of:

Nursing assessments and management focused on alleviating symptoms
A telephone-delivered psychosocial intervention from a social worker focused on adjusting to living with illness and depressive symptoms
Team care review by the nurs…

Reviewing Author

Frederick A. Masoudi, MD, MSPH, FACC, FAHA

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardBristol Myers Squibb; CPC Clinical Research

Grant/Research SupportNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Editorial BoardsUpToDate; American College of Cardiology Self-Assessment Program (SAP)

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican College of Cardiology (Chair, Innovations Committee)