Finding and treating heart failure early to reduce hospital stays
Tests earlier detection and treatment of heart failure in older high-risk adults.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Early Detection and IntervenTion in Heart Failure
Key facts
- Where
- Aarau, Baden, Basel, Geneva, Lausanne, Lucerne, Lugano, Sankt Gallen, and Zurich, SwitzerlandSee the 11 sites
Where in Switzerland
- KSA Kantonsspital AarauAarau, SwitzerlandNot yet recruiting
- Cantonal Hospital BadenBaden, SwitzerlandNot yet recruiting
- St. Claraspital AGBasel, SwitzerlandNot yet recruiting
- University Hospital BaselBasel, SwitzerlandTaking people
- University Hospital GenèveGeneva, SwitzerlandNot yet recruiting
- University Hospital LausanneLausanne, SwitzerlandNot yet recruiting
- Kantonsspital LuzernLucerne, SwitzerlandNot yet recruiting
- Hospital Istituto Cardiocentro TicinoLugano, SwitzerlandNot yet recruiting
- Kantonsspital St. GallenSankt Gallen, SwitzerlandNot yet recruiting
- Stadtspital ZürichZurich, SwitzerlandNot yet recruiting
- University Hospital ZurichZurich, SwitzerlandNot yet recruiting
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
- Trial code
- NCT07731490
- Record updated
- 28 July 2026
- Original description
Heart failure (HF) occurs when the heart is no longer able to pump blood effectively throughout the body. This leads to symptoms that gradually worsen over time and are often mistaken for normal signs of aging. Because of its insidious onset, early detection is challenging. Both patients and healthcare professionals are often insufficiently aware of the early signs and symptoms of HF, resulting in delayed diagnosis. Consequently, timely initiation of treatments that could slow disease progression, improve quality of life, and reduce hospitalizations is often missed. Although a simple blood test measuring NT-proBNP levels can facilitate the early diagnosis of HF, it is not routinely used in clinical practice.Read full original descriptionShow less
Early Detection and IntervenTion in Heart Failure
Heart failure (HF) occurs when the heart is no longer able to pump blood effectively throughout the body. This leads to symptoms that gradually worsen over time and are often mistaken for normal signs of aging. Because of its insidious onset, early detection is challenging. Both patients and healthcare professionals are often insufficiently aware of the early signs and symptoms of HF, resulting in delayed diagnosis. Consequently, timely initiation of treatments that could slow disease progression, improve quality of life, and reduce hospitalizations is often missed. Although a simple blood test measuring NT-proBNP levels can facilitate the early diagnosis of HF, it is not routinely used in clinical practice.
The aim of this study is to evaluate whether a combined strategy for the early diagnosis and treatment of HF can reduce hospitalizations. This strategy includes:
1. increasing awareness of HF among patients and physicians, 2. using NT-proBNP testing for the early detection of HF in high-risk patients, and 3. promptly initiating guideline-directed HF treatment when the diagnosis is confirmed.
The researchers will assess whether this strategy effectively reduces hospitalizations due to acute heart failure over an 18-month follow-up period.
Inclusion: General consent (GC) has not been rejected; Age ≥ 65 years; Elective percutaneous coronary intervention* (PCI), pulmonary vein isolation* (PVI), pacemaker implantation* (PM, no cardiac resynchronisation), transcatheter aortic valve intervention* (TAVI), major non-cardiac surgery* or presenting with tachyarrhythmia to the emergency department (ED) (without a diagnosis of HF within 24h); Exclusion criteria are assessed on day 1 after the procedure.
Exclusion: Previously enrolled in this study; Patients died prior to postinterventional day 1 (8:00 a.m.); Dementia documented in the medical history; Metastatic cancer in the medical history; Known allergies, hypersensitivity, or intolerance to SGLT2 Inhibitors / Loop Diuretics / MRA or is excipients; Patients requiring intensive care unit (ICU) or intermediate care (IMC) stay beyond 11:00 a.m. on the first postoperative day or any post-interventional stroke unit stay until 8:00 a.m. on the first postoperative day; Estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) <30 mL/min/1.73 m2; Systolic blood pressure ≤ 95 mmHg; Known HF; Non-resident in the country of the recruiting site; Incapacity of the patient to make judgements; Patients not hospitalized overnight; Severe aortic or mitral stenosis.