Screening for Heart Failure in Diabetes: A Way to Reduce Its Prevalence? A Proof of Concept of a Risk Assessment Tool

Abstract

Background: Heart failure (HF) is underdiagnosed among patients with diabetes. Awareness is required to improve its management and to reduce its impact. Objectives: To suggest a risk assessment tool that could facilitate the early diagnosis of HF and even reduce its incidence by facilitating individualised management plans. Methods: Assess current medical literature, searching for parameters that indicate a higher risk of HF among the diabetic population. Results: Twenty-four parameters were found that could be the potential basis for a risk stratification tool. Conclusion: The concept of a risk stratification tool is presented. Work on validating will be required. It has the potential to affect the future management of patients with diabetes and to reduce the incidence and prevalence of HF in this population.