874 Rev Esp Cardiol. 2007;60(8):874-7 Heart Failure Units in Spain: State of the Art Elisabet Zamora and Josep Lupón Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain. BRIEF REPORTS Correspondence: Dr. J. Lupón. Servei de Cardiologia. Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol. Ctra. del Canyet, s/n. 08916 Badalona. Barcelona. España. E-mail: jlupon.germanstrias@gencat.net Received November 28, 2006. Accepted for publication April 11, 2007. Unidades de insuficiencia cardiaca en España: situación actual La insuficiencia cardiaca es un problema asistencial de gran magnitud. Las unidades de insuficiencia cardiaca ofrecen una mejor atención a los pacientes con este sín- drome. La implementación de estas unidades en los hos- pitales es muy variable en los distintos países. No se co- nocen datos concretos sobre la realidad de éstas en España. Mediante un breve cuestionario se han evaluado la implementación actual y las características de estas unidades en el ámbito hospitalario en España. De 110 hospitales consultados, 45 (41%) tienen unidad de insufi- ciencia cardiaca. Este porcentaje varía significativamente en función del nivel tecnológico (nivel 1: 8%, nivel 2: 38%, nivel 3: 76%). El 91% de las unidades depende del servicio de cardiología. El 78% de las unidades encuesta- das dispone de enfermería, la mayoría (63%) con dedica- ción sólo a tiempo parcial; su labor es principalmente educativa, aunque un 34% sólo realiza labor de soporte (electrocardiograma y medición de constantes). Palabras clave: Insuficiencia cardiaca. Unidades de in- suficiencia cardiaca. Enfermería. Heart failure is a huge public health problem. Heart failure units provide better care for patients with this condition. The establishment of such units in hospitals varies greatly between countries. To date, no specific data are available on the current situation with these units in Spain. A short questionnaire was used to evaluate the present-day implementation and characteristics of heart failure units in Spanish hospitals. Of the 110 hospitals surveyed, 45 (41%) had a heart failure unit. The percentage varied significantly with the technological sophistication of the hospital: level 1 (lowest), 8%, level 2, 38%, and level 3 (highest), 76%. Some 91% of units were run by cardiology departments. In 78% of the units surveyed, nurses were involved in patient care, though only on a part-time basis in the majority (63%). Their task was primarily patient education, although, in 34%, they only performed basic support tasks (ie, ECG and monitoring vital signs). Key words: Heart failure. Heart failure units. Nursing. INTRODUCTION Heart failure (HF) is a huge public health problem for 2 main reasons: it is highly prevalent 1,2 and is a major cause of hospital admission. 1,3 Several metaanalyses 4-6 have reported that the creation of specialized health care systems has improved care for patients with HF. Thus, in the European Society of Cardiology Guidelines on the treatment of chronic HF its implementation is recommended as follows 7 : class I, level of evidence A to reduce hospital admissions, and class IIa, level of evidence B to reduce mortality. Such specialized care systems in hospital settings are usually organized as HF units. Despite the available evidence, the implementation of these units in hospitals varies considerably between European countries. 8 There are no specific data on the number of HF units available in Spanish hospitals, their characteristics, and the role that nurses play in them. The aim of this study was to obtain these data. METHODS A brief questionnaire was administered containing 12 items: 1. Name of the hospital. 2. Level of technological sophistication. 3. Presence of a heart failure unit. 4. Type of patients cared for in the unit. 5. Department in charge of the unit. 6. Departments that participate in running the unit. 7. Resources available in the unit. 8. Availability of nurses.