A Multi-Site Thailand Heart Failure Snapshot Study

Background The prevalence of heart failure (HF) is increasing in many low-income and middle-income countries, but the limited availability of data on patient profiles and clinical outcomes, particularly at a community level, challenges health service planning. Methods The Thai HF Snapshot Study was a multi-site, observational study conducted in Thailand between June 2017 to June 2019. It aimed to document demographic, clinical and sociodemographic characteristics, and to compare clinical outcomes by the level of the hospital. Results A total of 512 participants were recruited across Thailand: mean age was 64.9 +/- 15.3 years and 286 were female (55.9%). The most frequently identified admitting diagnosis was ischaemic heart disease (45.1%). Most patients (70.3%) were classified as New York Heart Association class II at discharge. Patients in university hospitals were frailer (3.2 vs 2.9; p=0.015), had more depressive symptoms (8.1 vs 5.7; p<0.001), and had lower functional status (66.2 vs 73.3; p<0.001) than those in tertiary care. Conclusion Although HF patients admitted to university hospitals had access to advanced technology and health care specialists, clinical outcomes likely affected patient acuity. Interventions are urgently needed to ensure improved HF management considering the social determinants of health in Thailand.