1.5 million. This is the number of people affected byheart failure in France, according to Health Insurance, which has been carrying out an awareness campaign on the subject every year for three years. A figure which should increase by 25% every four years. Furthermore, between 400,000 and 700,000 French people suffer from heart failure without knowing it.
To better inform people about this disease, the Heart Failure and Heart Failure Group cardiomyopathies (GICC) of the French Society of Cardiology, launched a national campaign. In this context, 24 hospitals and clinics offer a screening day. An initiative which also aims to better detect the disease, the diagnosis of which is often late, in particular because of its poorly understood symptoms. Gold, “It is very important to treat heart failure early to treat and improve cardiac function,” underlines Emmanuelle Berthelot, hospital cardiologist at Bicêtre hospital and president of the GICC in a press release.
The French Society of Cardiology is starting an information and screening campaign from September 12 to December 19. In 24 hospitals, rapid and free screening by completing a questionnaire in 10 minutes. Consult https://t.co/AESdgW6jB9 for screening dates. #GICChttps://t.co/N8q276F5zA pic.twitter.com/kY9co4Fel1
— GICC (@Giccardio_fr) September 11, 2024
What are the 4 symptoms of heart failure to know?
If those over 60 are most affected by heart failure, the number of cases increases before the age of 55 due to smoking, a sedentary lifestyle and even diet. Problem: only 19% of seniors are able to spontaneously cite one of the symptoms of this disease, according to a BVA study carried out for Health Insurance in June 2022. However, there are four warning signs, known as the acronym Epofas the GICC reminds us:
- shortness of breath ;
- weight gain;
- edema of the feet and ankles;
- fatigue.
Health Insurance indicates that “present in isolation, these four symptoms are not specific to the disease but their association or their recent occurrence should suggest heart failure”. If these symptoms appear, it is therefore essential to consult your doctor as soon as possible. He will thus be able to detect the disease or note its worsening in people already diagnosed, who risk decompensation.
Detect heart failure early to prevent it from getting worse
If it is a chronic disease which cannot be cured, the objective is to provide information on heart failure, in order to detect it as early as possible, because this allows it to be taken care of quickly and thus slow its progression. The GICC recalls in its press release that “management is based on the Epon strategy: exercise or regular physical activity, weigh yourself regularly, observe your treatment and follow-up, do not salt your diet.”
When left untreated, heart failure leads to a deterioration in quality of life, repeated hospitalizations, and also death. It is also the leading cause of hospitalization among those over 65, recalls Health Insurance.
Heart failure: how to get screened as part of this campaign?
The screening offered as part of this campaign consists of a questionnaire aimed at looking for the four warning signs of heart failure. Afterwards, “a micro-blood sample will be taken for the determination of the NTproBNP biomarker”specifies the GICC. If heart failure is suspected, the patient will be referred to a cardiologist.
To benefit from it, you must go to one of the participating hospitals. In certain regions such as Ile-de-France, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes or Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, the campaign extended from September to mid-November, but it continues in other regions . Here is the list of establishments concerned:
In Brittany:
- Rennes University Hospital: December 17
In Normandy:
- Caen University Hospital: December 10
- Rouen University Hospital: December 12
In Hauts-de-France:
- Lille University Hospital: December 3
- Le Bois private hospital (Lille): December 5
- Amiens University Hospital: December 10
In the Great East:
- Reims University Hospital: December 17
Sources :
- The first national heart failure screening day organized in 25 hospitals in France – Press release from the Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathies Group (GICC) of the French Society of Cardiology (2024)
- Launch of an awareness campaign in favor of early diagnosis of heart failure – Health insurance (09/20/22)
