Overview

• Only 60% of heart failure patients in France see a cardiologist annually, with those who do experiencing a 24% lower one-year mortality risk.
• For patients hospitalized in the past year, quarterly cardiologist visits reduced mortality from 34.3% to 18.2%.
• The study introduces a risk-based model using recent hospitalization and diuretic use to optimize follow-up frequency and improve survival rates.
• Older individuals, women, and patients with chronic conditions like diabetes or lung disease are less likely to access specialist care, highlighting systemic inequities.
• Researchers plan interventional trials to test causality and explore the applicability of these findings in other healthcare systems.