Evolution of economic burden of heart failure by ejection fraction in newly diagnosed patients in Spain

OBJECTIVE: To describe healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs, in patients with newly diagnosed heart failure (HF) according to ejection fraction (EF) in Spain. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study that analyzed anonymized, integrated and computerised medical records in Spain. Patients with ≥ 1 new HF diagnosis between January 2013 and September 2019 were included and followed-up during a 4-year period. Rates per 100 person-years of HCRU and costs were estimated. RESULTS: Nineteen thousand nine hundred sixty-one patients were included, of whom 43.5%, 26.3%, 5.1% and 25.1% had HF with reduced, preserved, mildly reduced and unknown EF, respectively. From year 1 to 4, HF rates of outpatient visits decreased from 1149.5 (95% CI 1140.8–1159.3) to 765.5 (95% CI 745.9–784.5) and hospitalizations from 61.7 (95% CI 60.9–62.7) to 15.7(14.7–16.7) per 100 person-years. The majority of HF-related healthcare resource costs per patient were due to hospitalizations (year 1–4: 63.3–38.2%), followed by indirect costs (year 1–4: 12.2–29.0%), pharmacy (year 1–4: 11.9–19.9%), and outpatient care (year 1–4: 12.6–12.9%). Mean (SD) per patient HF-related costs decreased from 2509.6 (3518.5) to 1234.6 (1534.1) Euros (50% cost reduction). At baseline, 70.1% were taking beta-blockers, 56.3% renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, 11.8% mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists and 8.9% SGLT2 inhibitors. At 12 months, these numbers were 72.3%, 65.4%, 18.9% and 9.8%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although the economic burden of HF decreased over time since diagnosis, it is still substantial. This reduction could be partially related to a survival bias (sick patients died early), but also to a better HF management. Despite that, there is still much room for improvement. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-023-10376-z.