[Home return Assistance Program for Chronic heart failure in-hospitalized patients (PRADO-IC) : Description, evaluations, perspectives]

Abstract

Introduction: Return to home after discharge for congestive heart failure (CHF) is associated with prolonged and recurrent hospitalizations, the prognosis remains poor. Since 2013, the Caisse Nationale d'Assurance Maladie (CNAM) with the Société Française de Cardiologie (SFC) has set up a support program PRADO-IC (support program for returning home after hospitalization for heart failure).

The aim of this study: was to describe the program, to present epidemiologic data, and the evaluations by the CNAM, and by clinical studies, then to expose strengths limits and perspectives.

Results: After the inclusion a CPAM advisor organize the outcome, the care of the outpatient is based on his general practitioner (GP) and a private nurse trained in CHF care during a three-months program. Between 2017 and 2019, 20 264 patients per year were hospitalized in Ile de France, 8.8% were included in PRADO-IC. The retrospective CNAM evaluations were positive: follow up criteria were improved and mortality rate at 6 months was lower (10.3% vs. 14.1%). However, clinical retrospective study of Troyes hospital (n = 89), and Paris Saint Joseph Hospital (n = 633), did not confirm these results: rate mortality and/or re-hospitalization were not different between patients and control. Several prospective studies are underway; results will be soon available. Limits of PRADO-IC are discussed like the lack of inclusion criteria, lack of geriatric evaluation, or the pivotal role based on GP, and the short term of duration. Strengths are its existence, national reach, multi-disciplinary approach, educational contents. Clinical studies showed that the PRADO-IC program concerned to the most severe patients. Despite this, the one-year mortality and the HF readmission rate are the same than out-program patients.

Conclusion: PRADO-IC is the one and the only national transition of care program for IC patients. First evaluations are positive but prospective evaluation studies are needed in order to limit methodologic bias.

Keywords: Chronic Heart failure; Insuffisance cardiaque; Parcours de soin; Patient journey.